CAMERON HIGHLANDS, April 23 – MIC President Datuk Seri G. Palanivel says the Orang Asli community here is steadfastly loyal to Barisan Nasional (BN) and they will overwhelmingly support the coalition in the May 5 general election. The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, who is vying for the Cameron Highlands parliamentary seat, said the community realised that being a minority, only the BN-led government could guarantee their future.
“I always come here. From my visits, I can say that the Orang Asli will remain loyal to BN. They really appreciate what the BN has done for them all these while.
The BN’s scale (dacing) symbol has become synonymous to them. Come polling day, I’m confident the Orang Asli community will vote for the BN symbol.
“I believe the community has not forgotten BN’s good deeds for them. They’re like a fixed deposit to BN,” he told reporters after handing a cheque to the Orang Asli community for a hydro-electric power project in Ulu Jelai
Palanivel said the BN government had never took the Orang Asli support for granted.
“Their undivided support for the coalition had enabled BN to win in Cameron Highlands in every general election,” he said.
In returm for their support, the government would implement various development projects at Orang Asli settlements here and channel more allocations to ease their burden, he said.
“Previously, Orang Asli lived in kampung houses, but now some of them are living in bungalows after their children have attained higher education.
“Now we see a major transformation in their lives as some of them have become doctors, lawyers and engineers,” he said, adding there are some 5,000 Orang Asli voters here.
Palanivel said he was confident of defending the seat and was unfazed over the five-way tussle for the semi-urban constituency. Earlier, 201 Orang Asli received compensation totalling RM4.4 million for their crops and properties damaged by the hydro-electric project.
TNB Vice-President (New Business and Major Projects) Datuk Mohd Nazri Shahruddin said the company sought the services of the Assessment and Property Services Department to evaluate the extent of damage. The compensation amount was calculated based on provisions under the Electricity Supply Act 1990, he said. To date, TNB has paid out RM20.48 million in several phases to 600 people affected by the project.
Mohd Nazri also said the power utility giant would build three more Orang Asli settlements costing RM28 million which would be equipped with better infrastructure facilities such as a community hall, a surau, recreation area, tarred road and a playground for those whose houses were located inside the project area.
He said Kampung Susu, Kampung Giat and Kampung Pinang would be relocated to a new settlement that was more orderly and well-equipped with facilities. He said the hydro-electric project would provide more benefits to the locals
including job opportunities.
“To date, about 60 Orang Asli have been hired by contractors. This does not include jobs in support industries such as food catering and other businesses,” he added.
The hydro-electric project entails two phases, the first phase started in Ocober 2010, while the second phase last month.
BERNAMA
