BATEQ tribesmen who fled disease-ravaged Kampung Kuala Koh in Kelantan to a settlement in Terengganu are being taken away by health officials for health checks and treatment.

It is learnt that more than 20 Bateq tribesmen had arrived at Kampung Sungai Berua in Hulu Terengganu before Hari Raya to escape the mysterious illness that has killed 14 people in Kuala Koh.

Sungai Berua is about 2 hours drive from Kuala Koh in Kelantan, and is home to the Semaq Beri people. Members of the two Orang Asli tribes share family ties that go back generations.    

Semaq Beri tribesman Samad Kelapa, 40, told The Malaysian Insight that more that 20 people had arrived from Kuala Koh during the fasting month.

“They came during Ramadan, when the people started dying there (in Kuala Koh).

“Some of them came to seek shelter here, while the rest have relatives here.

“It was about five days ago that official’s from the Hulu Terengganu health office came here and picked up them up,” he said.

Samad said the officers told him that all the tribesmen from Kuala Koh will have to go for medical check-ups.

“They only took the Bateq tribesmen and said the health of our tribe was not affected,” he said.

The Malaysian Insight visited the area and saw several health officials looking for members of the Bateq tribe.

After spending close to an hour in the area, they said that there were no members of the Bateq tribe at the site.

On Wednesday, seven Orang Asli from Kuala Koh, were admitted to Hulu Terengganu Hospital in Kuala Berang after complaining of cough and shortness of breath.

Terengganu health director Dr Mohd Jusoh said another person was also admitted to the same hospital for diarrhoea, abdominal pain and vomiting, and is currently receiving treatment for acute gastroenteritis (AGE).

He said they are all in stable condition.

Since early May, 14 Orang Asli in Kuala Koh, including a year-old baby, have died allegedly after suffering breathing difficulties.

The government is expected to announce the results of their tests and investigations next week.

Samad who is living at a remote camp in Gerdong said members of his tribe have been cautious after hearing news of the deaths.

“We can’t stop them from coming here as they have relatives here, as some of them have also married into our tribe.

“They can stay but they can’t use our utensils as we fear the disease might spread,” he said.

Semaq Beri tribesman Samad Selik, 46, said that they will not visit Kuala Koh until the authorities announce that the area is safe.

“We heard about the deaths and we don’t really know what had happened.”

Selik also said the Tok Batin (village head) that died last month in Kuala Koh was his cousin.

“We got scared when we heard about it (deaths). We now don’t dare go there,” he said.

At Sungai Berua, the main settlement for the Semaq Beri tribe, Salek Pinang said most of the Kuala Koh tribesmen that came here have moved back.

Salek, who moved from Kuala Koh a year ago to live in Sungai Berua, said he will wait until the situation is resolved before going back.

“We will wait for it to be over before visiting the area.

“Even if we go there, it will be a day trip and we won’t stay overnight.”  – June 15, 2019.