For decades, the Orang Asli have been marginalised, their rights ignored by successive state governments.
In the past few days, 14 deaths were recorded from the Batek tribe in Kuala Koh. The deaths occurred over the past month but were only recently made public.
“Just seven to 10 years ago, if you visited them, they were perfectly healthy and psychologically happy. But their land has been taken away, in this case by the Kelantan state government. And their resource base has been destroyed.” Meanwhile, protein is needed to nourish health and ensure strong bones. Our protein is derived from meat which we purchase from the supermarket or raise on our farms. The Orang Asli, though, hunt for theirs. They kill just enough to meet their needs so that the animals are not over hunted. They maintain a good balance with the land. But mining and timber activities are threatening even rivers which are the Orang Asli’s source of fish protein.
Remember the outbreak of “serawan” in the Sungei Kejar area, near Gerik in Perak? This area is part of the Royal Belum forest, just a stone’s throw from a luxury hotel in the jungle reservation. In 2015, the child mortality rate among the 20 families in Sungei Kejar was 50%.
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