Thirty houses for Orang Asli village

Datuk Mohd Sani Mistam (left) and Asiah Md Ariff handing over the Hari Raya dividend for the 262 participants in the Sungai Layau Orang Asli Felcra programme involving a cost of RM1.3 million, held at the mosque. Pic by Fahmi Yusof

GOVERNMENT COMMITMENT: A medical centre will also be set up in Kampung Sungai Layau, near Kota Tinggi

KOTA TINGGI: THE Orang Asli Development Department recently built 30 houses for the villagers of Kampung Sungai Layau, near Kota Tinggi.

Director-general Datuk Mohd Sani Mistam said the department had worked with Glocal Link Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA), to build the houses.

"The government has also approved a special allocation of RM65,000 to set up a medical centre for the villagers.

"This proves the government's commitment to help the Orang Asli to improve their standard of living," Sani said, at a ceremony to declare a Hari Raya Aidilfitri dividend of between RM5,000 and RM6,000   for each of the 262 participants in the Sungai Layau Orang Asli Felcra programme.

There are 180  homes,  a multipurpose hall and a kindergarten in the village of   750.

Also present was State Rural and Regional Development, Culture, Arts and Heritage Committee chairman Asiah Md Ariff and state Orang Asli Development Department director Suhairi Abdul Ghani.

The underprivileged and senior citizens also received contributions.  Ahmad Ani, 62, said this would alleviate his financial burden and add  more cheer to his Hari Raya celebrations.