MORE than 300 Orang Asli in Kg Aring 5, Gua Musang, had their piped water infrastructure destroyed by wild elephants between 11pm yesterday and early today.

Village head Rina Anjang, 47, said three tanks and pipes supplying water from an uphill catchment area were totalled.

About 6am, residents discovered that their water supply had been cut.

This prompted some of them to check the water catchment area, located 3km from the village, or an hour’s journey on foot.

Rina said the villagers who went to check the catchment area saw that pipes had been “stamped on and scattered”, adding that the elephant herd believed to be responsible is still in the vicinity, but deeper in the jungle.

The incident will be made known to the Orang Asli Development Department, said the village chief, as the Bateq residents cannot afford to cover the cost of repairs themselves.

In the meantime, Kg Aring 5 folk are forced to rely on river water, despite not being assured of its safety for human consumption.

Resident Husin Selik, 61, said it is the first time that elephants have destroyed the village’s water supply system. – Bernama, November 3, 2019.