GUA MUSANG: Gua Musang member of Parliament Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah said it was the government’s negligence which resulted in the death of 15 members from the Orang Asli Batek tribe at Kuala Koh recently.
He also blamed the Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) for being irresponsible over the tragedy.
The government and Jakoa should have been more sensitive to the needs and the problems faced the Orang Asli community, he said.
Tengku Razaleigh believes that the Bateq tribe would not have faced such a tragedy, if Jakoa had carried out its duties, including making the regular and mandatory checks on the community from time to time.
“The Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) should be held responsible in regards to the affairs involving the specific community.
“The government should have known this earlier. It had Jakoa which was responsible for the Orang Asli ... how did they (Jakoa) not know (what was happening) and when death occurred, only then they realised (that something was wrong).
“What was more shocking was the dead were buried by the Orang Asli community without Jakoa being informed,” said Tengku Razaleigh, adding that the authorities should have focused on basic needs of the community such as provision of clean water as well as ensuring a clean environment for their settlement.
“Not were they late in acting, in fact it took them some time before they could announce the cause of the disease,” he said, speaking to reporters after attending the Galas state assembly Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations here today.
He said the Bateq community was different from other Orang Asli tribes.
“Now there are suggestions for the Orang Asli community to be moved to another place. This needs a thorough study."
Tengku Razaleigh said that land issue involving the Orang Asli community had also undermined their socio-economic position.
“I have been thinking on the social economy issue involving the Orang Asli community for quite sometime now, not only in Kuala Koh but also in other areas. We however do not have power on issues involving land.
“We wanted to open an Agarwood farm (for the Orang Asli) but it was unsuccessful due to land problems.
“The application to open the Agarwood farm was submitted to the state government but no attention was given to it,” he said.
Kuala Koh was in the headlines recently following the death of 15 people from the Bateq Orang Asli tribe, while hundreds were hospitalised in two government hospitals in Kelantan.
The deaths occurred between May and this month. The Health Ministry had confirmed that their deaths were due to measles infection.