GUA MUSANG: Certain quarters, particularly outsiders, have been trying to influence the Orang Asli here to ignore Covid-19 vaccination, by claiming it is not safe and citing other negative implications.
However, Kuala Betis tok batin (orang asli village head) Ibrahim Marjeh said the community has ignored these claims and realised the importance of receiving vaccinations.
"If you notice before this, there are rumours saying Orang Asli people are refusing vaccination.
"This is because they have been influenced by certain quarters who discredited the government's Covid-19 National Immunisation Programme (NIP).
"They told the Orang Asli that the vaccine doses contained certain ingredients which could harm and even kill humans.
"They also told the community that the vaccine had side effects such as paralysis and that this had been mentioned in the social media," he said.
When met at a community outreach programme in Kuala Betis recently, Ibrahim said the propaganda, however, was shortlived and later ignored by the Orang Asli community.
"Many started to realise the truth and are now racing to get the vaccine jabs," he said.
Ibrahim urged the government, especially the police and other relevant agencies, to take stern action against those who were trying to influence the community from getting vaccinated.
Kelantan has more than 16,000 Orang Asli staying in several settlements, mostly in Kuala Krai, Jeli and here.
The government through the state Health Department, had carried out various efforts to encourage the community to register for vaccination.
This included campaigns by various agencies and also outreach programmes in their vicinities.
Meanwhile, self-employed, Pak Da, 38, said outsiders as well as certain quarters thought they could easily influence the Orang Asli.
"They tried to scare us by showing us viral news about people becoming weak after taking the dose and other side effects.
"Some of us almost fell for their tricks but luckily, we realised the truth later," said the father of seven from Kampung Lambok.