By Siti Rohaizah Zainal
SHAH ALAM, July 8 — A total of 150 Orang Asli leaders will receive bonuses this October as a sign of appreciation from the state government, says Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari.
He said each Tok Batin (village chiefs) will receive RM1,000 while the chairman and secretary of the Orang Asli Village Development and Security Committee (JPKKOA) will get RM500 and RM250 respectively.
“The bonuses are given in appreciation of contributions they made during the implementation of the movement control order (MCO) as well as their assistance in taking care and overseeing the Orang Asli community.
“They will receive this bonus in October or at the latest by November,” he said during a meeting with Selangor Orang Asli leaders at the Shah Alam Convention Centre here yesterday which was also attended by state executive councillor for Orang Asli affairs Hee Loy Sian.
Amirudin added that the state government is continuously working to improve and elevate the status of the group in terms of allocation for their villages.
“In the upcoming 2023 Selangor Budget, we will propose for the Tok Batin allowance to be increased by RM600 thus bringing it up to RM1,500 in line with the minimum wage set by the government.
“Besides that, we also plan to provide a grant allocation of RM10,000 every year to the Orang Asli villages for their activities,” he said.
He added that the Selangor government has always ensured that the rights and welfare of the Orang Asli community are protected by taking several initiatives to defend their rights since a decade ago.
He said in 2009, the state government had resolved a settlement case to ensure that it will not be developed and remain as an Orang Asli settlement.
Meanwhile, between 2015 and 2018, he said the state government has made efforts to reduce poverty among Orang Asli families and provided the Sagong Tasi scholarships to elevate the education level of the group.
“During the MCO, we announced some provisions and did not forget the Orang Asli. We distributed food baskets to them three times to help in their livelihood during the pandemic,” he said.
Amirudin also thanked the Orang Asli leaders who assisted the state government in coming up with initiatives to benefit the community.
