'Orang Asli more open now, anyone can come to campaign'

NENGGIRI BY-ELECTION | A representative of the Kelantan Orang Asli has cautioned candidates that there is now more awareness of their democratic rights to elect a capable lawmaker.

Kelantan Orang Asli Village Network (JKOAK) deputy chairperson Nasir Dollah said they were previously viewed as a BN vote bank but are now more accepting of campaigning by other parties.

“If in the past, Umno did not allow PAS to enter (Orang Asli villages), now I tell the leaders of the Orang Asli community that is a violation of democratic principles.

“We are open for anyone to campaign, this a democratic system. If you block any party from campaigning, that’s not a democracy,” said Nasir when met in Kampung Langsat, Gua Musang, today.

“We don’t appear to have much of a choice between PAS or Umno,” he added.

In the last state election, former Perikatan Nasional assemblyperson Mohd Azizi Abu Naim won the Nenggiri state seat with a 810-vote majority against BN’s Abdul Aziz Yusoff.

Commenting further, Nasir said he previously met with representatives from both the federal and state governments to ensure that the Orang Asli community would receive their appropriate dues.

“When it’s a land issue, we can go to the state government. When it’s an issue of basic needs, we can go to the federal government.

“Orang Asli will be the deciding vote, previously in Galas and now in Nenggiri,” he added.

The Nenggiri by-election is being held following an unexpected vacancy after Azizi was declared to have lost his Bersatu membership on June 13.

The Election Commission set Aug 17 for polling and there is no early voting as all 14 registered early voters opted to cast their ballots via post.

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