By Suhaila Shahrul Annuar
SEPANG, July 21 — The Selangor government has allocated RM300,000 this year to repair and upgrade Orang Asli village infrastructure, said state executive councillor for human resources and poverty eradication V. Papparaidu.
Papparaidu said the funds will be used for road repairs and paving, streetlight repairs, bridge construction, house repairs, and more.
“Additionally, the electricity supply issue in some Orang Asli villages is also a priority, as our site visits revealed areas far from the main road that struggle to access electricity. We plan to install solar lights in these areas,” Papparaidu said.
To this end, the state government has earmarked RM98,000 to repair and pave two roads in Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Buah, Dengkil.
The project involves two roads, Lorong Sungai Buah Empat and Lorong Sungai Buah Lima, spanning about 250m.
[caption id="attachment_364826" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] State executive councillor for human resources and poverty eradication V. Papparaidu launches road improvement works at Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Buah, Dengkil, on July 21, 2024. — Picture by SUHAILA SHAHRUL ANNUAR/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
Papparaidu said these roads serve as primary access routes for over 300 residents and link three settlements — Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Buah, Kampung Orang Asli Bukit Tunggul, and Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Klebang.
“These roads are vital for daily activities such as travelling to school. Their uneven and damaged surfaces pose a risk, particularly after nightfall.
“Once paved, the roads will be smoother, facilitating more comfortable daily activities,” he added.
Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Buah, Bukit Tunggul, and Sungai Klebang management committee chairman Isham Isau expressed relief over the road repairs, which would benefit residents who use the road daily.
“Previously, some crashes occurred due to the severely damaged roads. With the new (improvements), the roads will be smoother and safer, especially for motorcyclists,” he said.