Orang Asli rep cries foul over scant details on birth control pills

Representatives from five Orang Asli villages submitted a memorandum to the government at Parliament today on, among others, complaints about the supply of birth control pills to the community without sufficient details.

Anjang Aluej (above), one of the representatives from Kampung Sungai Papan, urged the Health Ministry to stop providing such pills without clearly explaining to the community what they were for.

"We are against hospitals providing birth control pills to Orang Asli mothers.

"They did say that they were (family) planning pills but did not provide details. The Orang Asli community wants this to stop," he said.

Anjang, together with 40 other Orang Asli, visited Parliament to submit their memorandum which also touched on the community's customary land.

They also met with Gelang Patah MP Lim Kit Siang as well as Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Minister Yeo Bee Yin and Water, Land and Natural Resources Deputy Minister Tengku Zulpuri Shah Raja Puji.

He said the issue of Muslim and Christian missionaries trying to convert the Orang Asli was also raised.

"The Orang Asli community wants a resolution to the issue of Islamisation as well as conversions by Christian missionaries.

"Our message is don't disturb our customs," he said.

The memorandum was handed over to the Orang Asli Development Department director-general Juli Edo (above).

Anjang said the document will also be forwarded to Prime Minister Dr Mahatihr Mohamad and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department P Waythamoorthy.

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