THE recent surge in Covid-19 infections among Orang Asli communities is the result of delayed efforts to educate them about the coronavirus and the importance of vaccination, said activists who work with Peninsula Malaysia’s indigenous people.

Tijah Yok Chopil, who resides in Kg Kudung in Bekok, Johor, said fears about vaccination were not addressed quickly enough, and only after outbreaks worsened this year in Orang Asli villages did the Orang Asli Welfare Department (JAKOA) and health authorities come to the villages to conduct education and awareness drives.

Recently, the Centre for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC) reported that Covid-19 infections in the community had increased exponentially from 287 to 3,293 within the span of one month from July 20 to August 20.
Up to August 20, an estimated number of 3,293 Orang Asli have contracted Covid-19, while 49 have died from the virus.

Thirty-two clusters have been detected within the community, which is spread across different states. Many Orang Asli villages, about 60 in total, have also been placed under the enhanced movement-control order (EMCO).

In contrast to last year, when the pandemic began, few or zero Covid-19 cases were found in Orang Asli villages, and authorities did not focus on awareness efforts there. Most outreach programmes to the Orang Asli then involved handing over food baskets to help them cope with movement restrictions.

“To me, what’s happening now is a result of insufficient awareness of the dangers of this virus,” Tijah said.

Most of the work to spread awareness about the virus has been done by non-governmental organisations, volunteer doctors and Orang Asli activists.

The methods used have involved online platforms as movement has been restricted throughout the pandemic by lockdowns, but such efforts have been hampered by the lack of Internet access and mobile devices for the Orang Asli.

“Unfortunately, even though there are efforts to educate the Orang Asli, there are still many of them who fear vaccination.

“They also don’t follow the standard operating procedure (SOP). Instead, they visit other villages and cause Covid-19 infections there,” Tijah said.

Local leaders

Yusri Ahon of Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (JOAS) stressed the importance of using people the Orang Asli trust as part of efforts to raise awareness.

He said the official government programmes seen in Orang Asli villages have so far been for the national vaccination drive.

However, no effort has been made to educate villagers on what vaccination is all about.

“The vaccination programme should include the Tok Batin (village head) and village committees to raise awareness on the importance of vaccination.

“(Local leaders should be used) to teach about SOP… (there should also be) internal monitoring and (control over) traffic in and out of the villages,” Yusri said.

However, he said health authorities have done a good job looking after those who get Covid-19.

Colin Nicholas of COAC said, in fighting Covid-19 in Orang Asli villages, the authorities must, first of all, treat them with dignity and as partners.

For example, quarantine must be explained as a way to help solve the problem, rather than being equated to imprisonment.

“It should be treated as a social response to a real medical situation,” said Nicholas.

Genuine participation

Jakoa should also set up a liaison committee with the Orang Asli at the quarantine centres and EMCO villages to address localised issues such as supplies, movement and communication.

And the Orang Asli should be allowed and encouraged to use their own traditional medicines and practices for the treatment or prevention of common colds, flu, and similar ailments, Nicholas added.

“Many factors need to be considered and acted upon. In a nutshell, more can, and needs, to be done. 

“In particular, we need… dedicated SOP for OA areas, apart from the general one,” he said.

COAC’s survey on Covid-19 among Orang Asli villages, however, noted that there has been a 337% increase in the vaccination rate among the community. Currently, about 53% of the total number of 144,180 Orang Asli eligible for vaccination have received at least one dose of a vaccine.

Nicholas said the right people to influence Orang Asli to get vaccinated are not government officials, but their own community elders, including the shamans.

“We need to convert (this group), and let them be the influencers.

“Orang Asli leaders and people in positions of influence or authority are the best influencers in the village, while the ordinary kampung folk are mainly illiterate and (hold) strongly to the traditions or opinions of their elders,” he said.

Any outreach to the Orang Asli must involve good communication, relationship-building, trust, and collaboration, with genuine participation and involvement, he added.

Nicholas also said that the experience of Covid-19 and vaccinations on the ground varied from village to village.

In Rompin, Pahang, Ali Kuchi, an Orang Asli, said his village and others nearby have not had many infections. And all adults in his village would be fully vaccinated in a few days’ time.

They are mainly worried about food supply and money because the pandemic has cost the villagers their jobs. – August 28, 2021.