Kuala Koh S Bateq Community Optimistic After Dpm S Announcement Of Rm3 3mil

---

Villagers in Kampung Kuala Koh, Gua Musang, Kelantan have reacted with relief and optimism to the announcement last week by Deputy Prime Minister Wan Azizah Wan Ismail that RM3.3million had been allocated towards improving living conditions in the area
Last Friday Bernama reported Wan Azizah announcing the allocation, saying that the funds would go towards the construction of a RM2 million Grid Power Supply System by Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) and a water treatment system valued at RM800,000
An additional RM434,000 will be allocated to meet various requirements, including the provision of food according to the recommendations of the Ministry of Health
The community was devastated in May and June this year when an outbreak of disease - later confirmed by Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad to be measles - killed 16 villagers from the Orang Asli Bateq community

Yong bin Jais, 31, told Malaysiakini that he is happy that the Federal government is responding to the villagers' plight and helping to improve living conditions
"I feel happy that things are getting better. This is what our people need. They are happier, and I think life will improve for us," he said
He added that people are open to using modern medicine
"Villagers do not know how to obtain piped water and electricity, so we have to rely on Jakoa (the Orang Asli Affairs Department) for those things. Overall, I think we will be able to live well after these improvements," he said
Wan Azizah's (above) announcement also mentioned that Jakoa would provide assistance to villagers to grow eggplant and pumpkin as a source of food and a source of additional income, which would go to 53 heads of households
She also announced that Jakoa has trained local children as workers in community schools, and plans to provide sewing classes for mothers
She said that the Federal Government was planning to set up an Alternative Learning Centre in collaboration with the Kelantan State Education Department and Equity National Berhad
Furthermore, Wan Azizah announced plans to introduce a community feeding programme to improve the nutritional status of children from the Orang Asli community
Nawi bin Mohammad, 22, is also pleased with the developments
"I feel thankful that people are willing to help our community. We need clean water and many villagers want electricity."He also said that the visit of health workers was welcome
"Now people are more open to receiving visits from the nurses. People don't move so frequently anymore, so things are more lively in the village."He added that the community was looking for more projects that would help them achieve self-sufficiency
"We hope to set up more agricultural projects to improve livelihoods after discussing within the newly set-up Majlis Pengurusan Komuniti Kampung Orang Asli (Mpkkoa) to plant crops like rubber, banana, vegetables."Malaysiakini is attempting to contact long time Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah for his comments on the latest development. - Mkini

---