TRANSPORT woes and a lack of manpower are hindering the Orang Asli Affairs Department (Jakoa) from delivering aid to various tribes across the country during the current Covid-19 pandemic.

Director-general of Jakoa Prof Dr Juli Edo told The Malaysian Insight it is facing logistics problems trying to deliver aid to 55,000 Orang Asli households.

“We don’t have enough transportation so the delivery will be done in stages. Like in Cameron Highlands, there are 24,000 households. So, we can’t go to all at once,” Juli said.

“We will still try and solve these issues.”

The Malaysian Insight reported that tribes in Perak, Pahang and Kelantan are facing food shortages because of the movement-control order (MCO) to break the chain of Covid-19 infections.

The virus has so far infected 4,119 Malaysians and caused 65 deaths.

Among those infected were two Orang Asli – a three-year-old boy from Cameron Highlands and a hospital staffer from Perak. 

Tribes have complained that they could not afford to buy food as they are daily wage-earners who are out of jobs while others said the authorities are stopping them from collecting aid directly from civil society groups.

Another issue the department faces is a lack of manpower to deliver the goods to the needy tribes, said Juli.

“We don’t have enough manpower because there aren’t many people (volunteers) in the various districts.

“In some districts, there are 20 to 30 villages, while we have three to four people to assist and they are exhausted.”

He said it takes time to reach the interiors of Gua Musang in Kelantan, Kuala Lipis in Pahang and Grik and Banding in Perak because of the terrain and weather conditions.

“However, for the rest of the areas, it is fine. For the interior, we have to use four-wheel drives and for larger more accessible areas, we use lorries.”

Volunteers, aid needed

At the moment, food has been distributed for the first wave and it is preparing to give out more food for the second wave by the end of this week, in stages.

“Agencies do provide rice, sugar and other essentials but what they need is milk powder for children.

“The supplies are delivered to each state and then the officers there will channel it to the districts where it will be distributed to the tok batin (village heads).

“It will be delivered to the balai raya (community halls) to ensure that there is social distancing.”

Those who want to give aid or volunteer will have to go through the proper channels, such as the state disaster management department and district welfare office, Juli said.

“We do welcome help from all agencies. Anyone who wants to help other than the agencies, should go through the proper channels.”

He added that other than Jakoa, there are other agencies like the Federal Islamic Development Department (Jakim) and civil society groups supplying food to the Orang Asli. – April 9, 2020.