PUTRAJAYA is investigating the cause of death of several Orang Asli in Gua Musang before deciding on what action to take to address it, said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“We are trying to find the reason why they died en masse. It might be an infection or a kind of disease,” Dr Mahathir said at a press conference in Malacca today.

“But we need to (first) know what kind of disease has caused their deaths.”

The Orang Asli from the Batek tribe in Kg Kuala Koh had reportedly died suddenly from a mysterious disease.

According to the villagers, a total of 14 people died beginning last week and were buried according to local traditions in the jungle. Police say they have only received reports of two deaths.

Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad urged the public not to enter the Orang Asli villages until the government has determined the cause of death, adding that there were fears that the villagers were suffering from highly infectious bacterial infections in the lung.

Leptospirosis and tuberculosis were initially reported as possible causes of the villagers’ sickness, but have since been ruled out.

Environmental rights groups have slammed the Kelantan state government for failing to protect the Orang Asli community from harmful contamination from mining, logging and plantation activities in their area.

Charitable organisations working with the Batek have blamed the cause of death on polluted water sources, contaminated by chemical runoff from mining operations and plantations nearby.

Currently, there are 42 villagers still receiving hospital treatment at Hospital Gua Musang and Hospital Kuala Krai. Another 47 villagers have been discharged and are receiving outpatient care. – June 10, 2019.