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Last Updated: 2:59pm, Dec 17, 2013

PUTRAJAYA (Dec 17): Tired of becoming the 'victims' of development in the Iskandar Malaysia, the Orang Asli Seletar, a sea faring community, now turns to the Prime Minister for help.

Describing Datuk Seri Najib Razak as their 'last resort', Mohammad Iskandar Roki, a representative from Simpang Arang village in Johor, said continuous destruction of the mangrove forest and coastal pollution have disrupted their livelihood.

He said the mangrove forest is a rich source for cockles, prawns, crabs and fish of which the community could previously earn up to RM400. Now, he said they are unsure to earn even RM10.

Iskandar said the community is worried that if the development continues, they would soon be left with nothing.

The fear, he said has been increasing since their pleas to the state government has fallen on deaf ears.

The Orang Asli Seletar community - which comprises some 180 families - Iskandar added, only knew how to fish with only a handful willing to move on to other means to earn a living.

"They (state government) promised to meet with us a week before Hari Raya to resolve the issue but till today, we have not seen them.

"We were promised compensation by the project developers. Till now, we have yet to see a single sen. We have no choice," he told reporters outside the Prime Minister's Office after handing over a memorandum this morning.

Johor opposition leader Dr Boo Cheng Hau, who accompanied Iskandar, along with 43 others suggested the PM's Department set up a state government fund for the Orang Aslis to look after their welfare.

DAP, he said, will also help set up an Orang Asli settlers association to aid them in applying for a trust ownership which he hoped the state government would support.

"This way the community can manage the land by themselves," he said.

The Orang Asli, he said, despite being the original settlers were however the most forgotten and the country owed them an allegiance.

"They are a minority and should be protected. They don't ask for much, but just want to be left alone," he said.

A DAP member, S Ramakrishnan stressed that they were not against development, but felt that it has to be done responsibly.

The Orang Asli community, he said, must not become collateral damage.

"There is development for 'Iskandar', but not Iskandar," he pointed out.

The Iskandar Malaysia is a southern development corridor in Johor that covers an area of about three times the size of Singapore.

Among the industries planned for the area include education, tourism and healthcare.


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