14 June 2019

Diseases are heartless, but people aren’t: Crisis Relief Squad of MCA aids Orang Asli

The case of the Orang Asli villagers in Kuala Koh, Gua Musang, Kelantan contracting diseases with 14 deaths reported has captured the attention of the whole Malaysia to the plight of their living conditions. On 13 June 2019, the Crisis Relief Squad of MCA (CRSM) despatched its volunteers to the scene to consult and get a better grasp of their needs and offer aid accordingly.

In the morning of 13 June 2019, CRSM led by its National Chairperson Dato' Natalie Lim Chong Ly, together with local MCA leaders, first visited Hospital Gua Musang, donating 20 boxes of N95 face masks and 40 dry-pack rations to the hospital officials. These were subsequently distributed by the hospital staffs to the families of the affected Orang Asli’s.

The CRSM team later arrived at the Orang Asli village in Kuala Koh. As the area is currently cordoned off by the authorities, we could only leave boxes of dry-pack rations and drinking water at the camp for provisional help supplies, for the officials of National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) to distribute accordingly to the local Orang Asli’s.

After some communication with NADMA officials, Dato' Natalie Lim was made to understand that the camp has sufficient food supplies. What’s actually lacking was hygiene products. Dato’ Natalie promptly made arrangements for the purchase of hygiene products such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, hair shampoos, disinfectants, and sanitary pads, which was delivered on the next trip there within the same day.

Dato’ Natalie Lim urged the government to take swift actions to investigate the source of the mysterious disease shrouding the Kuala Koh Orang Asli village, and offer aid to the hapless locals.

On behalf of CRSM, Dato’ Natalie Lim expressed condolence on the unfortunate 14 deaths so far, as well as concern for many who are still disease-stricken. Many of the local Orang Asli’s have already fallen into a state of helplessness and disarray, opting to follow traditional bereavement rites for their deceased relatives, having little to no awareness and preventive action against the disease, much less knowledge of treatment. 

Dato’ Natalie noted that, the first known incident in this village was on 2 May 2019. Presently, as the death toll has climbed to 14 persons, the lack of development and details on the report, as well as the unidentified source are worrisome as many remain under medical supervision.

Dismayed at the government’s apathetic attitude and attempt to shroud the incident, Dato’ Natalie stressed that these issues should be investigated from the root of the problem. She also expressed CRSM’s hopes that the authorities will take measures to identify the source of the disease: if it was found that the disease was due to any party’s negligence, they should be judged in a fair trial, to ensure that the villagers’ health will not be compromised anymore.

Crisis Relief Squad of MCA (CRSM)

-MCA online-