JOHOR BAHRU, Sept 1 — The Seletar tribe of the Orang Asli community in Pulai wants the elected representative in the coming by-election to prioritise quality education for their children.
They believe this will prevent them being left behind in the country’s development.
Although the government has provided schooling facilities near Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Temon and Kampung Orang Asli Bakar Batu, the community wants more efforts made to encourage their children to attend school and understand the importance of education.
The Tok Batin (Orang Asli chief) of Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Temon, Salim Palon, who has held the post for almost 40 years, is open to suggestions for educational development.
He said education is essential for improving Orang Asli families’ economic standing, especially in rapidly developing urban areas, and suggested placing teachers in the village to conduct tuition classes at least once a week for children.
“Although we (Orang Asli of the Seletar tribe) love the sea, I often emphasise to them that education is very important to improve the economic standing of one’s family, more so when we are living in a rapidly developing urban area,” he told Bernama.
Salim said there are 30 Orang Asli children in Sungai Temon enrolled at SK Sungai Danga and SMK Dato’ Usman Awang here, while nine others are continuing their studies at higher learning institutions.
Meanwhile, the Tok Batin of Kampung Orang Asli Bakar Batu, Kais Kie, wants additional classes held to foster his village children’s interest in studying.
At the moment, he said, the state government has provided various assistance to the community, including by sending 10 children to SK Taman Sutera, but more needs to be done.
“The children in the village would rather follow their parents to sea than go to school. It would be better if there is a teacher in the village to hold classes, including computer classes, to at least teach them the basics of using computer equipment and also other skills,” he added.
He said there are 15 children aged between seven and nine in the village who have dropped out of school.
Apart from education, Kais, 62, also hopes the elected representative can focus on developing their village, including by building of a new jetty to replace the existing dilapidated one, considering the Orang Asli community of Seletar depend entirely on the sea for a livelihood.
Johor Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) director Faisal Long said Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Temon has 289 residents (74 families), while Kampung Orang Asli Bakar Batu has 211 residents (52 families). The community makes a living by fishing.
Of the number of residents in the two villages, he said, 306 of them are eligible to vote in the Pulai parliamentary by-election on September 9.
The by-election was called following the death of incumbent Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub on July 23 due to a brain haemorrhage.
The Amanah deputy president and domestic trade and cost of living minister was also Simpang Jeram assemblyman.
Early voting is on September 5.
The Pulai parliamentary by-election will feature a three-cornered fight between Suhaizan Kaiat from Pakatan Harapan, Zulkifli Jaafar from Perikatan Nasional, and Independent candidate Samsudin Mohamad Fauzi.
— Bernama
