Orang Asli Settlement

Today is another day of my voluntary activity; we have an appointment to visit the `orang asli’ settlement in Serendah near Rawang. We went in a fleet of three cars to deliver some donations that were requested in aid of the community center of the `orang asli’.

We were introduced to the `orang asli’ settlement by a representative of the St. Judes church. The presentation was brief, I was hoping to see more of the `orang asli’ but instead the majority of the attendance were from the church and our group.

Once the hand over was done, we served them food that we had brought along with us. Suddenly the hall became full of the `orang asli’ kids. They were eating like as though this was their last meal. I saw most of the young mothers were at an average age of 14 to 15 and among them, they will already have at least two kids.

What the Government had done to educate the `orang asli’ was just a sad truth of greed. Their land was taken from them for development or for the personal interest of the political leaders, while these people are still living with the least of their basic needs.

Time and again my trust in our government’s mandates and promises just went flushing into the filthy toilet bowl in the community hall.