Bukit Tadom Orang Asli turn to NGO, Jakoa after Welfare Dept snub
Around 500 Orang Asli from the Temuan tribe in Bukit Tadom, Banting, Selangor, have turned to local NGOs and the Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) for help after being purportedly denied flood assistance from the Welfare Department.
When contacted, Hadi Jembik, 50, said department officers on the ground informed them that they will not qualify for any compensation or financial assistance, as they had refused to move to a temporary flood shelter (PPS)...
Around 500 Orang Asli from the Temuan tribe in Bukit Tadom, Banting, Selangor, have turned to local NGOs and the Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) for help after being purportedly denied flood assistance from the Welfare Department.
When contacted, Hadi Jembik, 50, said department officers on the ground informed them that they will not qualify for any compensation or financial assistance, as they had refused to move to a temporary flood shelter (PPS).
"They (department officers) said where we decided to move is not an official PPS, so we cannot get any financial assistance," Hadi, who is the tok batin (village head), told Malaysiakini.
He said the situation has improved today with receding water levels, leaving only water in their homes, located within the Kuala Langat district which was among the worst hit by flooding last weekend.
He said there were 217 heads of households in the village and they had all agreed to move to a higher location closer to their homes, rather than move further to the gazetted PPS at SMK Sungai Manggis.
"We also do not want to mix with the others. It happened in the past people say Orang Asli are dirty.
"My late father is also a tok batin. I remembered he used to say the next time there is flooding, just move to the hills. So this time all of us decided to not move to the PPS," he added.
At their own temporary site, Hadi said they received help from NGOs that provided food and other supplies.
Three bundles of mattresses
Meanwhile, Jakoa had also provided water tanks, dry food and tents for shelter.
"The Welfare Department just said we can't get any compensation.
"Yesterday after I got angry they distributed three bundles of mattresses," added Hadi.
Aside from Selangor, Orang Asli communities in Pahang were also among those living in temporary shelters, with help from volunteers.
In a FAQ (frequently asked questions) document released on Wednesday, the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) said the head of households that did not evacuate to a gazetted PPS will have to apply for the RM1,000 Bantuan Wang Ihsan through their community leader or district officer.
It further said those who had registered at a PPS with a Malaysian identity card do not need to make an application for the RM1,000 aid, as it will be directly dealt with by the department.
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