Latest news with #DepartmentofOrangAsliDevelopment
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Climate
- New Straits Times
New RM400,000 bridge brings relief to Orang Asli in Gua Musang
GUA MUSANG: The construction of a new RM400,000 bridge across Sungai Balar in Pos Balar, set to begin this month, has brought much-needed relief to more than 1,000 Orang Asli residents in the area. Orang Asli Village Development and Safety Committee chairman Hanan Anjang said he was grateful that the villagers' difficulties had finally received the attention of the authorities. "We are truly thankful to the Department of Orang Asli Development (Jakoa) for its concern over the plight of the Orang Asli community in this remote area," he said when contacted. Hanan said the original structure, a steel suspension bridge, collapsed three months ago after Sungai Balar overflowed following heavy rain in March. "Since then, crossing the river has been very challenging. "We have had to carry motorcycles by hand just to reach Gua Musang town, and many of our children have been unable to attend school. "Over the past three months, we built two makeshift wooden bridges, but both were swept away by rising river levels during heavy rains," he said. Although construction of the permanent bridge, under a design-and-build contract, is expected to begin this month, Hanan said the villagers have agreed to rebuild a temporary crossing in the meantime. Hanan added that the RM400,000 project is expected to be completed within three months. "To ease movement for now, especially for school children, we will reconstruct a temporary bridge across Sungai Balar," he said. It was reported that Jakoa would expedite the construction of the new bridge to replace the original structure, which was washed away by strong currents on March 9. Jakoa director-general Datuk Sapiah Mohd Nor had said that the location, terrain, and weather conditions would be carefully considered during the construction process.
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- General
- New Straits Times
Digitalisation of Orang Asli preschool education starts next year
GUA MUSANG: Orang Asli children will soon benefit from more modern educational facilities as efforts to digitalise preschool education will start next year, said the Department of Orang Asli Development (Jakoa) director-general Datuk Sapiah Mohd Nor. She said plans are underway to provide internet access at all kindergartens under the Community Development Department (Kemas) in Orang Asli settlements, including those in remote areas. She said the initiative is part of the community's human capital development strategy within the next five years. "At the Rural Development and Regional Development Ministry level, we are currently formulating a strategy to digitalise preschool education in Orang Asli settlements. "Based on visits to several locations, we found that some kindergartens and educational institutions require special attention. "Insya-Allah, we will provide the necessary facilities according to the scope and allocations under Jakoa," she told reporters during the Mesra Rakyat Programme in Kuala Wook, here. Sapiah said there are 20 Kemas kindergartens in Kelantan and two in Terengganu located in Orang Asli settlements. "We are working closely with Kemas to identify locations that should be prioritised, as internet access and communication coverage are key needs in remote areas," she said, adding that implementation will begin in the most hard-to-reach locations first. – Bernama
The Sun
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
JAKOA brings gov't services to remote Orang Asli settlements in Nenggiri
GUA MUSANG: The Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA), together with various government agencies, has launched an outreach expedition to deliver essential services to three remote Orang Asli settlements in the Nenggiri state constituency under the Mesra Rakyat (People-Friendly) programme. JAKOA director-general Datuk Sapiah Mohd Nor said the programme involved strategic collaboration with several government agencies. They include the Social Welfare Department, National Registration Department (NRD), Ministry of Health, National Anti-Drugs Agency, Gua Musang Court, South Kelantan Development Authority and the Nenggiri state assemblyman's service centre. She said the collaboration aimed to facilitate direct access to government services for the Orang Asli, without requiring them to endure long and difficult journeys to town, with Pos Simpor, Pos Pasik and Kuala Wook selected as the destinations for the two-day expedition, which began yesterday. 'This initiative is the result of coordination among various agencies under the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development,' she told reporters during the programme at Pos Pasik, here today. Meanwhile, Nenggiri assemblyman Mohd Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani said the initiative received overwhelming support from local residents, who took advantage of the chance to engage directly with various government agencies present. The most popular service was the NRD counter, which received about 140 applications for identity card replacements, 10 late birth registration applications, and 145 applications for MyKid. 'A total of 138 advisory services were also provided to residents regarding documentation and citizenship rights,' he said. Meanwhile, for Zulaina Alim, 30, a Temiar woman living in Pos Pasik, the programme marked a turning point in her life when she finally managed to register the birth of her child, who is now 12 years old. She said her child was born at the Kuala Betis resettlement scheme health clinic, but she had to return to her village, more than 70 kilometres away from Gua Musang shortly after giving birth, causing the registration to be delayed for more than a decade. 'I came today solely to apply for the birth certificate and Alhamdulillah, the process went smoothly. My child will finally have a birth certificate,' she said.
The Sun
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
JAKOA brings gov't aid to remote Orang Asli in Nenggiri
GUA MUSANG: The Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA), together with various government agencies, has launched an outreach expedition to deliver essential services to three remote Orang Asli settlements in the Nenggiri state constituency under the Mesra Rakyat (People-Friendly) programme. JAKOA director-general Datuk Sapiah Mohd Nor said the programme involved strategic collaboration with several government agencies. They include the Social Welfare Department, National Registration Department (NRD), Ministry of Health, National Anti-Drugs Agency, Gua Musang Court, South Kelantan Development Authority and the Nenggiri state assemblyman's service centre. She said the collaboration aimed to facilitate direct access to government services for the Orang Asli, without requiring them to endure long and difficult journeys to town, with Pos Simpor, Pos Pasik and Kuala Wook selected as the destinations for the two-day expedition, which began yesterday. 'This initiative is the result of coordination among various agencies under the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development,' she told reporters during the programme at Pos Pasik, here today. Meanwhile, Nenggiri assemblyman Mohd Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani said the initiative received overwhelming support from local residents, who took advantage of the chance to engage directly with various government agencies present. The most popular service was the NRD counter, which received about 140 applications for identity card replacements, 10 late birth registration applications, and 145 applications for MyKid. 'A total of 138 advisory services were also provided to residents regarding documentation and citizenship rights,' he said. Meanwhile, for Zulaina Alim, 30, a Temiar woman living in Pos Pasik, the programme marked a turning point in her life when she finally managed to register the birth of her child, who is now 12 years old. She said her child was born at the Kuala Betis resettlement scheme health clinic, but she had to return to her village, more than 70 kilometres away from Gua Musang shortly after giving birth, causing the registration to be delayed for more than a decade. 'I came today solely to apply for the birth certificate and Alhamdulillah, the process went smoothly. My child will finally have a birth certificate,' she said.
The Sun
25-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Coordinate aid to Pos Simpor, Pos Gob during road repairs
KUALA TERENGGANU: All associations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) intending to deliver aid to Pos Simpor and Pos Gob in Gua Musang, Kelantan, are urged to coordinate with the Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA) beforehand. JAKOA director-general Datuk Sapiah Mohd Nor said repair and upgrading works on the main roads leading to both areas are currently underway to ensure residents have better and more comfortable access. She said to prevent road damage during unpredictable weather, access, especially for heavy vehicles and four-wheel drives, needs to be restricted. 'JAKOA is in the process of upgrading the roads with this year's allocated budget... both villages (Pos Simpor and Pos Gob) are involved. 'Given the current unstable weather conditions, we want to minimise movement to avoid further damage. Aid can be channelled directly through JAKOA,' she said at the closing ceremony of the 2025 National Orang Asli Sports Carnival here last night. On May 17, a landslide damaged the main road to the two villages, home to about 3,000 Orang Asli residents from the Temiar tribe. However, the road has since been repaired and is now passable. Meanwhile, Sapiah said JAKOA has allocated RM3.9 million this year for the Human Capital Development Programme (PMI). Funding covers various scopes including leadership, student motivation, community classes, education outreach, career skills training and sports development, she added. 'These efforts have yielded results, with an increase in the number of SPM 2024 students achieving five or more A's, rising to 113 compared to 88 in 2023. 'In fact, this year we aim to sponsor 500 Orang Asli students to higher education institutions, up from 456 last year,' she said.
