Johor to spend RM1.33mil on orang asli

08 December 2009 , By The Star

Johor will spend about 20% from its RM6.55mil allocation under the economic stimulus package on helping the orang asli, many of whom are still living in conditions of poverty.

State Rural Development, Arts, Culture and Heritage Committee chairman Asiah Md Arif said the RM1.33mil would be given as transportation and daily allowances for orang asli children and farming aid.

She told the state assembly in her winding-up speech yesterday that RM716,230 would go towards paying for school transport fares for 2,514 orang asli students, RM351,000 as allowances for 980 secondary students and RM270,000 for farmers.

“There are 953 poor orang asli families in Johor,” she said,

She added that the poor made up about 42% of the total number of orang asli households in the state.

Asiah also said RM8.4mil would be spent to relocate orang asli from Kampung Minyak Beku in Batu Pahat to Sungai Banang.

The funds would go towards the construction of 100 houses, a surau, a jetty and roads as well as other basic amenities, she added.

“The relocation project should be completed by 2011,” she said, adding that it will give rise to a more conducive living environment for the residents.

Asiah also said there were 85 cases of Felda settlers who had been penalised for not abiding by the terms of their agreement.