Agong wants Kampung Orang Asli Kuala Boh to become a model village

CAMERON HIGHLANDS: Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah today expressed his wish that Kampung Orang Asli (KOA) Kuala Boh here becomes a model village for other Orang Asli villages and settlements.

His Majesty said the village should be emulated by its surroundings for its cleanliness and beauty, not to mention the harmony displayed by the community there.

“I would also like to remind people, especially the locals here, to keep cultivating harmony and friendship and not being too political.

“We work on our land to earn an income and those who work out in Tanah Rata should work there to the best of their ability because it is not easy to find work now,” His Majesty said after a briefing on the Improvement of telecommunications services at KOA Kuala Boh by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

Also present was the Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah.

Al-Sultan Abdullah also expressed his delight at MCMC’s plans to improve telecommunications services in the region and hoped that more facilities and needs promised to the Orang Asli community could be met soon.

“I have been informed that Pahang Islamic Religion and Malay Customs Council (MUIP) together with Orang Asli Development Department (JAKOA) will build some houses and carry out repair work on some houses in this area.

“We have to finish everything we can. I believe that efforts are being made to provide the infrastructure, especially in terms of electricity, water and so on,” His Majesty said.

Earlier, Al-Sultan Abdullah and Tunku Azizah witnessed the conversion to Islam of two Orang Asli women in the village, followed by a delivery of school supplies to Orang Asli children and a van for local residents.

During the visit, Al-Sultan Abdullah and Tunku Azizah also treated residents of KOA Kuala Boh with Jemput Jemput Durian prepared by Tunku Azizah.

Earlier in a briefing session, MCMC Chief Operating Officer Datuk Mohd Ali Hanafiah explained the preliminary substation project being undertaken by the Commission with industry at KOA Kuala Boh.

Mohd Ali said the temporary substation was built after complaints from local residents during His Majesty’s visit to the village on Jan. 7, and as a result his team is currently in the midst of completing the KOA Kuala Boh Tower project to give residents access to the Communication to facilitate services more smoothly.

The construction of a 76-meter high fiberglass tower, costing RM1.5 million, will be used by more than 200 Orang Asli families and is expected to be completed this September. -Bernama