POLICE refuted the report that two Orang Asli residents in Kg Kuala Koh in Gua Musang had died of a mysterious disease on May 29 and yesterday.

Gua Musang police chief Taufik Maidin said both victims – the 30-year-old man who died on May 29 and the 21-year-old woman who passed away at 4 pm yesterday – actually died of viral infections in the lungs which cause severe coughing.

“The post-mortem results showed that they died of a severe coughing fit and not of any mysterious disease.

“In fact, investigations found that there are many other members of the community who have been suffering the same illness, including 31 who are currently receiving treatment,” he told Bernama when contacted today.

He said of the total, 13 were warded at Gua Musang Hospital, two critical ones were transferred to Kuala Krai Hospital, while the rest received out-patient treatment at the Aring 1 and Chiku 3 health clinics.

Taufik also refuted the allegations by the Orang Asli that 13 of them had died because of the disease, saying that only two death reports were received by police so far.

He said police were also monitoring the situation of the disease with the cooperation from the relevant agencies to ensure that those infected would receive immediate medical treatment.

Meanwhile, Kelantan/Terengganu Orang Asli Development Department director Hashim Alang Abdul Hamid said the department had yet to receive the full report pertaining to the allegation that 13 Orang Asli residents had died due to viral infections within the period of a month.

He said they only received two death reports so far, but investigations were being done to ascertain the actual situation and to get the names of those who allegedly have died. – Bernama, June 8, 2019.