‘More Orang Asli in varsity'
ROTORUA: More than 500 Orang Asli students have enrolled in local private and public universities to further their studies this year, said Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Deputy Prime Minister said this was among the achievements of the current administration to uplift the socioeconomic status of the community.
'Although the Orang Asli represent a minority group, the Madani government is committed to ensuring that they receive the necessary attention and support, thereby preventing them from being sidelined or left behind,' he stated to reporters following his participation in the Maori Business Roundtable discussions with Maori community leaders yesterday.
He said the number of Orang Asli students enrolling in the local universities has been increasing since 2023.
'The 300 enrolment target set for 2023 was exceeded, and the enrolment also surpassed last year's target of 400 after it was increased.
'This year's target of 500 has also been surpassed,' he said.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid announced that he would soon chair a special meeting with the Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) to establish an Orang Asli Business Council.
He said the council will help expose the community to various viable business fields.
He added a microcredit scheme would be established under Amanah Ikthiar Malaysia to offer small loans to Orang Asli women and mothers, enabling them to generate additional income for their families.
'We will also set up a TVET institution specifically for the Orang Asli,' he added.
The Melaka government is also looking into turning the Orang Asli village in Gapam Baru in Selandar, Alor Gajah, into an international tourist attraction.
He said further talks will be held to fine-tune the details of the proposal, including providing funds to promote the village.
He added Cameron Highlands MP Datuk Ramli Mohd Nor, who also heads the Orang Asli Development Committee, will oversee the implementation of these proposals.
Ramli is the nation's first Orang Asli MP, and he was subsequently appointed as Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker.
There are slightly more than 200,000 Orang Asli in Peninsular Malaysia, who account for about 0.8% of the nation's population.
Earlier, Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Rural and Regional Development Minister, visited the Whakarewa Living Maori Village in an effort to learn how New Zealand's indigenous community manages their cultural and economic affairs.
The Deputy Prime Minister is on a five-day working visit that began on July 14, with the aim of boosting bilateral ties and trade with New Zealand.
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