October 05, 2009 13:10 PM
Logging Threatens Comfort Of Sungai Rual Orang Asli
By Syarifah Hunaini Syed Ismail
JELI, Oct 5 (Bernama) -- The standard of living for the Orang Asli has much changed for the better as compared to that they used to experience before, thanks to the country's robust economic development.
Most of them have discarded their nomadic way of life, living in small groups in the deep jungles, to inhibit planned settlements under the government's relocation schemes.
The same can be said for the folks of Kampung Sungai Rual, an Orang asli settlement located 50 km from Jeli town. Their life has changed a lot as compared to that in years before.
For these villagers, the settlment is equipped with treated water and electricity supply, community hall and surfaced roads. There is a school, Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Rual.
Most of the Orang Asli population in the settlement are Muslims.
LIFE OF COMFORT
Kampung Sungai Rual Development Supervisor Abdul Rashid Bernas admitted that the life of villagers was more comfortable when compared to that of before.
The same can be said for the two other Orang Asli settlements in the area -- Kampung Sungai Manok and Kampung Kalok.
Some of the villagers now own cars and handphones while others can afford to subscribe to paid satellite television transmissions. Much of these 'comforts' are due to the assistance given by the Federal Government.
Abdul Rashid said without assistance from the government,it would be quite difficult for the Orang Asli in the three villages to start new life and discard the practices of their ancestors.
THREATENED BY LOGGING
"Before, I used to follow my father and grandfather to the jungles near the village to look for roots to be made traditional cures, rattan for handicraft. However nowadays it is difficult to do that," he said.
The reason is that the jungles are being ravaged by logging and these activities are converging towards the village by the day giving repercussions felt by the villagers.
"Before, this village is cold and the air is clear. Now it is warm due to a lot of trees being chopped down. The logging is approaching the village by the day.
"The lorries carrying timber have damaged the roads and bridge. These structures have been repaired a number of times but the lorries keep damaging them. The villagers are the ones affected for they need to commute to the town for errands.
Abdul Rashid's friend, security guard Ramli Pisang nodded in agreement.
He said water in the village's river used to be crystal clear, to the extent that the riverbed can be seen. But now it was so dirty and murky.
"As for the fishes in the river, what is left are the small ones even we do not have the heart to catch them,' he said.
NO MORE TRADITIONAL SOURCE OF INCOME
Ramli also said the villagers' traditional source of income like the jungle produce has depleted.
"Now it is difficult to look for the herbal roots. The jungle is not like it used to be as many trees have been felled. Only the small trees are left, that also they want to cut down.
"If there is no government assistance, then life will be difficult," said Ramli who benefitted from the government's housing programme for the hardcore poor (programme).
The member of parliament for Jeli, Datuk Mustapa Mohamed, said the Orang Asli villagers were highly dependent on the government assistance despite much had been contributed for this group.
He said the life of Orang Asli villagers there were being adversely hit by the logging activities in the nearby jungles that has been going on for several years.
"The area where they seek their livelihood is gradually shrinking. Before, they can look for fish in the river and petai in the jungle but these activities are no more due to the logging carried out," he said.
"There are many timber lorries moving in and out, bringing damage to the roads. The river is also polluted. All of these affected their livelihood forcing them to ask for government assistance," said Mustapa.
HELP FOR VILLAGERS
Mustapa said the government have initiated several projects specifically for the benefit of Orang Asli villagers in Kampung Sungai Rual, Kampung Sungai Manok and Kampung Kalok.
"Apart from the assistance given by government agencies like the Orang Asli Affairs Department (JHEOA), the government also disburses dividends of RM200 a month for each participants of Risda projects as an addition to their income.
On the logging activities near the Orang Asli settlements, Mustapa said the Federal Government cannot act as the jurisdiction on that matter was within the state authorities.
"What we can only hope is that, the state government would exercise more attention to the plight faced by the villagers for so long," he said.
JHEOA Deputy Director for Kelantan and Terengganu, Abdul Razak Arshad, said the Federal Government has set aside RM11 million allocation for development of infrastructure for the Orang Asli in Kelantan.
The sum included that for construction of houses for the hardcore poor families apart from food aid.
CASH CROPS
"We encourage them to participate in short-term cash crops projects like the cultivation of honey potatoes and breeding of catfish in canvas tanks.
"In Kelantan, the number of Orang Asli hardcore poor has dropped. Before, there used to be about 1,200 but now the figure remaining is about half," he added.
There are some 600 Orang Asli residents in the three villages of Sungai Rual, Sungai Manok and Kalok.
-- BERNAMA
