Reaching out to the Orang Asli community

AID:JUITA, the NGO led by the wife of Johor Menteri Besar, co-organised a health camp for Orang Asli Seletar to better their quality of life

THE catchy rhythm, created from simple bamboo percussion instruments and a djembe, along with the graceful movements of the Orang Asli Seletar dancers, captivated the audience.

The dancers wore anklets made from woven palm leaves, sea-shell necklaces and bracelets, and skirts of woven leaves worn over batik sarongs.

Even though the songs were sung in patois, a few common Malay words and the dancers' genteel gestures helped the audience understand that the dances were about fishing and farming.

Two groups from Kampung Sungai Temon performed  at the show, which started with two children telling their stories in song, as a group of girls danced to music  played by the boys.  

Next, a group of  older girls danced to the music and powerful vocals of a male soloist.  

Afterwards, a group of ladies from Kampung Bakar Batu, who call themselves Ketam Bangkang  and often represent the indigenous community in Johor at events, received loud applause as several guests  recognised its brand of music and songs.  

The cultural showcase was part of the programme  in a health camp for Orang Asli Seletar folk.

The camp also included a J-Robik exercise session, health checks, exhibition stalls by NGOs, as well as the sale of products and services by single mothers and members of the indigenous community.

It was held at Taman Merdeka in Johor Baru last month. It was jointly organised by Juita (Badan Amal Tenaga Isteri Wakil-Wakil Rakyat Negeri Johor), Yayasan Pembangunan Keluarga  (Johor Family Development Foundation), and several other non-governmental organisations (NGOs).  

Juita is an NGO actively involved in community welfare projects for women and children in Johor.  

In keeping with the Johor state government's aim of creating a caring community through holistic development, Juita has implemented 13 welfare projects in Johor since 1995 to help underprivileged single mothers and children  with smart partnerships.

State departments, NGOs, as well as the private sector, have also participated in these projects.  

Juita's welfare schemes aim to help the needy in Johor's multi-racial community.

The 14th Juita-ku Sayang project was launched in December last year to support the development of indigenous people, particularly the Orang Asli Seletar of Johor.  

  As Iskandar Malaysia develops at a rapid pace, Juita is working in tandem with the Pengkalan Rinting assemblymen Chia Song Cheng and  Nusajaya state assemblymen Datuk Abdul Aziz Sapian to look into the social and welfare needs of the indigenous community living in the Simpang Arang, Bakar Batu and Sungai Temon villages.  

Prof Datin Paduka Dr Jamilah Ariffin, Juita's president and wife of Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman, recognises that indigenous people are the original settlers of the area in the Iskandar Malaysia project.

She is keen to help them  benefit from the development through improved job opportunities and skills training that promote a better quality of life.

"Health is wealth," said Jamilah as she explained how Juita aimed to encourage the Orang Asli community to take responsibility for their health.  She emphasised that the community must work towards ensuring its health by adopting good habits and keeping its neighbourhood clean.  

She said the Orang Seletar villages in Kampung Bakar Batu, Kampung Sungai Temon and Kampung Simpang Arang will be cleaned  as a gotong-royong  activity.

Bridges and jetties in these villages will be repaired, while  regular health camps will be organised for the villagers.

Studies are already being carried out to ascertain the health and special needs of the Orang Asli children.

Through the research conducted by various local universities,  it was discovered that the Orang Seletar  have their own culture.

Jamilah said the marketable skills acquired under Juita's Income-Generating Skills programme can help them develop a business to ensure a financially stable future for their families.  

Jamilah encouraged the locals to  enrol for the entrepreneur courses designed to train them in skills such as foot reflexology and spa management, cooking, pastry-making, food and beverage packaging, tailoring, hairdressing, handicraft-making, child-minding, nursery care and gardening.

These courses, she said,  will equip and enable  the Orang Asli to start a business.  

At the event, 70 underprivileged families from the three villages received a sum of RM250 each, out of which RM200 was in the form of credit stored in their MyKad, while RM50 was presented to them  with  sponsorship from MyKasih Foundation.  

Using the MyKad credit facility, a cardholder can shop for  basic necessities at Giant Hypermarket Tampoi and pay the amount electronically.  

A brief demo of  the cashless transaction was shown to guests, including the president of MyKasih Foundation, Ngau Boon Keat, who donated RM100,000 towards the 14th Juita-ku Sayang project.

The underprivileged families also received essential food items, including rice, from  Chia Song Cheng and  Abdul Aziz Sapian, the members of parliament  for Pengkalan Rinting and Nusajaya, respectively.

The guests enjoyed a simple lunch,  followed by several other activities, including  games for the children.

Orang Asli Seletar with an exhibit of some of their useful handicrafts on sale at the health camp.

Orang Asli single mothers (in white) being trained in foot reflexology.

A demo on how an Orang Asli can use the MyKad holder can use cashless facility to shop without cash at the Giant hypermarket in Tampoi being carried out.

Dressed in traditional wear, the Orang Asli folk women from Kampung Sungai Temon are a friendly lot. Pix by Peggy Loh

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