PAKATAN Harapan is claiming credit for the Barisan Nasional government’s work to uplift the Orang Asli community in Cameron Highlands, says former prime minister Najib Razak.

An example of this is the Pos Lenjan project, he said, which PH cancelled but afterwards decided to proceed with while claiming it was for the sake of the Orang Asli.

He also reminded the Orang Asli of the former government’s RM200 million allocation for them from 2008 to 2013, including to fund the Sungai Ruil housing project that cost RM44 million.

“They are high-value homes that the BN government gave you for free,” he told about 300 Orang Asli in Cameron Highlands today.

Najib told them BN had also selected one of them, ex-policeman Ramli Mohd Nor, to be its candidate for the January 26 by-election,

“He (Ramli) is one of your own. He is from the Semai tribe. He is highly qualified and an ex-police officer as well.

“This is a matter of Orang Asli pride, he is your symbol. If he wins, your rights will be taken care of.”

At the same event, Pahang Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Rosdy reminded the audience of the pact between the BN government and the Tok Batin.

“The Tok Batin met me and told me that you wanted nothing more than roads. I was told if they didn’t get the roads, they didn’t want to vote BN. 

“It was BN that brought development here to the Orang Asli. They told me if the Orang Asli get the roads, BN will get the votes,” said the state rep for Jelai, which is part of the Cameron Highlands constituency.

The federal by-election will pit Ramli against PH candidate M Manogaran, and two independents. – January 19, 2019.