GUA MUSANG: More than 7,000 Orang Asli in the district will benefit from the RM190 million alignment project connecting five rural roads in Kuala Betis that was announced by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today.
The Orang Asli who live in 68 villages, have been using logging roads for more than 30 years as there was no road access to their villages.
Pos Bihai Lama Orang Asli Village Development and Security chairman Mulian Alok said today's news brought cheer to the people.
"We are really happy today as finally our dream of a proper road has come true. We have been facing this difficulty for more than 30 years.
"There is no road in our villages and everyday, we have to use the logging roads to go to Kuala Betis to buy our daily neccesities.
"Most of us will travel in motorcycles and four-wheel-drives, spending hours on the journey.
"But soon, our problem will be solved. On behalf of the 500 Orang Asli in Pos Bihai Lama, l would like to thank the federal government as well as the Deputy Prime Minister," said the 50-year-old when met at Kuala Betis.
Kampung Galang village head Ishak Harun said the project would ease the burden for some 100 villagers in his area.
"We have been using the logging roads when we want to go to other places.Sometimes, it is a risk to use the logging roads especially during the rainy season.
"But we have no other choice except to continue using the route. Otherwise, we will not get our daily supplies for our family," said the 47-year-old.
Zahid today said he has directed the Works Ministry to speed up the RM190 million alignment project connecting five rural roads in Kuala Betis to ease the burden suffered by the affected villagers.
Zahid said he was informed that the project, which covers stretches of roads totalling about 94km, would take about 48 months to complete and would put a stop to the problems faced by the Orang Asli, the teachers and the school pupils in Kuala Betis and five other areas.
Apart from the allignment project, Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, said the government also has approved RM11 million for the Batu 6 bridge project in Nenggiri.
The road projects, which will connect the Kuala Betis-Pos Bihai-Pos Belatim-Pos Balar-Pos Hau area, is expected to start next week and completed in August 2028.