Flood aid: N9 Orang Asli villagers refute claim of being neglected
Orang Asli villagers affected by flood in Lenggeng, Negeri Sembilan today refuted a website's claim that they were neglected by the state government and left in hunger.
Sam Anak Chen, who is the chairperson of Kampung Orang Asli Jeram Kedah management committee, said the report was not true as the village did receive aid from many parties including the Welfare Department as well as people's representatives for the area.
"I would like to clarify the news that...
Orang Asli villagers affected by flood in Lenggeng, Negeri Sembilan today refuted a website's claim that they were neglected by the state government and left in hunger.
Sam Anak Chen, who is the chairperson of Kampung Orang Asli Jeram Kedah management committee, said the report was not true as the village did receive aid from many parties including the Welfare Department as well as people's representatives for the area.
"I would like to clarify the news that claimed we had run out of food. That is not true.
"The villagers here have received contributions from many, including the Seremban MP and Lenggeng state assemblyperson, the Welfare Department as well as those sent by NGOs.
"So, there was no issue of us not getting assistance," he said in a video message, which was recorded during a visit by Seremban MP Anthony Loke earlier today.
On Thursday, a website called Suara TV had published a report where it quoted Sam saying that the Orang Asli villagers there were left in hunger after the Welfare Department allegedly stopped sending hot meals to them since Wednesday.
On the same day, the website published another article showing the Negeri Sembilan Umno sending assistance to the villagers.
Asked to act sad
Meanwhile, a village management committee member claimed that a group had come and asked her to act sad for their video.
"That day there were some people who asked me to cry. But how could I cry just like that? Unless some people died, then only I would cry.
"But there was no such issue as we ran out of food. Late, maybe. Like... the lunchtime is at 12, but food only arrived at 1pm or 1.30pm.
"The food still came, only not on time," Salimah Pajan, 49, told Loke during the visit.
Commenting on the issue, Loke criticised what he described as an attempt to take advantage of Orang Asli's plight to create fake news.
He said all parties are welcome to deliver assistance to the community as they are also flood victims, but urge that such opportunity is not abused to state untrue claims.
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
This action cannot be undone.