The Menteri Besar of Perak, Dato’ Saarani Mohamad, stressed the importance of education to progress the Orang Asli community and realise more professionals among them.
He said so in his speech during a friendly reception with 180 Orang Asli village heads from around Perak at MH Hotel yesterday (March 23).
“Children from these communities tend to cease studying early due to parents’ discouragement and child marriage.
“Thus, the state government is in discussion to build more hostels with internet access and facilities, as well as appoint teachers to give way to education for the Orang Asli children.
“To work on this, we’re paying special attention in gathering most children who live inland and couldn’t obtain education accordingly,” Saarani explained.
Also present at the reception were the Executive Councillor for Rural Development, Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives, Dato’ Zainol Fadzi Paharudin; and Director-General for the Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA), Prof. Dr Juli Edo, among others.
The audience was treated to an Orang Asli traditional dance performance and a special financial aid of RM178,180 from the state government was also presented to the Orang Asli village heads in the form of a mock cheque during the reception.
Meanwhile, village heads will soon be receiving the COVID-19 immunisation vaccinations.
“They are important figures for the betterment of Orang Asli communities around the state. This is also to prevent transmissions of the deadly virus among their kind,” Saarani added.
Chris Teh
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