The Malacca government is currently working to ensure 10 Orang Asli settlements in the state can be gazetted to safeguard the interests of the community in the future.

State Women, Family Development, Social Welfare and Orang Asli Committee chairperson Ginie Lim Siew Lin (photo, above) said thus far four Orang Asli villages have been identified, namely, Lubuk Bandung in Jasin, Bukit Seraya, Bukit Payung and Machap Umboo in Alor Gajah.

She said it was important to gazette the Orang Asli settlements in order to protect the land as they did not follow land ownership concept as practiced by the general public.

“There are a number of issues arising from the move, including overlapping with forest reserves and land exchange issues that yet to be resolved.

“It is the responsibility of the state government and the Department of Orang Asli Development to protect their settlements from encroachment via gazetting,” she told reporters after officiating a charity programme to assist the residents of the Kampung Orang Asli Tebong Stesen in Alor Gajar today.

Lim said the state government would continue its efforts to safeguard the well-being of the Orang Asli community in the state especially in terms of security and basic facilities.

She said it would include upgrading of the roads to the villages, street lights as well as recreational facilities such as the construction of sepak takraw court and so on.

In the meantime, she hoped that awareness level on cleanliness and well-being of the Orang Asli community could be enhanced to ensure a clean environment and to prevent them from being infected by diseases.

- Bernama