191
crops. However, deforestation has severely limited their food source and income.
Their rights to live on traditional land have always courted controversy because
such land is not legally recognised with permanent tenure. This makes them vulnerable to exploitation from outside entities (Phua 2015). The loss of rights to live on
their own land has had a large effect on their traditional way of life.
The United Nations (2009) stated that the Orang Asli suffered from malnutrition
because of environmental degradation and contamination of their food sources.
Kasim et al. (1987) found that 56% of all the Orang Asli children were underweight
and 65.7% had stunted growth. The findings were supported by Idrus (2013), who
reported that 50–80% of the Orang Asli children in Malaysia were malnourished.
According to Burgess and Musa (1950), there is a significant relationship between
poverty and poor nutrition among the poor, especially those living in rural areas.
Ungku Aziz (1964) and Ahmad (1964) also noted that there is strong relationship
between protein diet and poverty in rural societies. All the studies observed that
good nutrition seems to be related to income potential of rural residents. However,
mainstream rural communities do not severely lack calories as they can still afford
to consume staples (i.e. rice). But such privilege is not available to the Orang Asli,
and unless they find other sources of food and income, continued deforestation will
reduce their ability to eke out a living and increase their health risks. Ironically,
population growth and modernisation have resulted in higher consumption of the
earth’s resources. Land clearing to open palm oil and rubber plantations, and construction of hydroelectric dams and airports have displaced minorities from their
traditional land. Nicholas and Baer (2007) stated that land development was the
reason for the loss of the Orang Asli’s legacy.
According to the United Nations (2009), geographical and financial barriers prevent the Orang Asli from getting adequate healthcare. Therefore, the Orang Asli
Development Department (JAKOA), under the Rural Development Ministry, has
introduced resettlement schemes to improve the standard of living among the Orang
Asli. This approach aimed to bring together scattered communities in remote areas
to permanent settlements that can be easily accessed. This move is coincidental with
Malaysia’s policy to bring them into mainstream society (Gomes 2004). The resettlement villages are provided basic facilities, such as brick houses, clean water supply, proper sanitation, electricity, primary schools and clinics. The government is
attempting a holistic approach to improve healthcare for the orang Asli that is in line
with modernisation and development. There are many initiatives to enhance this
minority group. JAKOA has carried out three initiatives in the Ninth Malaysia Plan
(2006–2010), such as the Structured Settlements Development Programme,
Economic Development Programme and Social Development Programme. These
three initiatives have been further empowered in the 10th Malaysia Plan (2011–2015).
It is hoped that through those initiatives, the Orang Asli’s quality of life will be
upgraded and assimilated into surrounding economies and development. To date,
the government has built 20 health treatment stations, four health transit centres,
one Orang Asli specialist hospital and two rural clinics, which are located near
resettlement areas. These infrastructure will benefit more than 20,000 Orang Asli
families. Additionally, government agencies have established complementary health
Orang Asli Health and Mortality in Hulu Terengganu, Malaysia
crops. However, deforestation has severely limited their food source and income.
Their rights to live on traditional land have always courted controversy because
such land is not legally recognised with permanent tenure. This makes them vulnerable to exploitation from outside entities (Phua 2015). The loss of rights to live on
their own land has had a large effect on their traditional way of life.
The United Nations (2009) stated that the Orang Asli suffered from malnutrition
because of environmental degradation and contamination of their food sources.
Kasim et al. (1987) found that 56% of all the Orang Asli children were underweight
and 65.7% had stunted growth. The findings were supported by Idrus (2013), who
reported that 50–80% of the Orang Asli children in Malaysia were malnourished.
According to Burgess and Musa (1950), there is a significant relationship between
poverty and poor nutrition among the poor, especially those living in rural areas.
Ungku Aziz (1964) and Ahmad (1964) also noted that there is strong relationship
between protein diet and poverty in rural societies. All the studies observed that
good nutrition seems to be related to income potential of rural residents. However,
mainstream rural communities do not severely lack calories as they can still afford
to consume staples (i.e. rice). But such privilege is not available to the Orang Asli,
and unless they find other sources of food and income, continued deforestation will
reduce their ability to eke out a living and increase their health risks. Ironically,
population growth and modernisation have resulted in higher consumption of the
earth’s resources. Land clearing to open palm oil and rubber plantations, and construction of hydroelectric dams and airports have displaced minorities from their
traditional land. Nicholas and Baer (2007) stated that land development was the
reason for the loss of the Orang Asli’s legacy.
According to the United Nations (2009), geographical and financial barriers prevent the Orang Asli from getting adequate healthcare. Therefore, the Orang Asli
Development Department (JAKOA), under the Rural Development Ministry, has
introduced resettlement schemes to improve the standard of living among the Orang
Asli. This approach aimed to bring together scattered communities in remote areas
to permanent settlements that can be easily accessed. This move is coincidental with
Malaysia’s policy to bring them into mainstream society (Gomes 2004). The resettlement villages are provided basic facilities, such as brick houses, clean water supply, proper sanitation, electricity, primary schools and clinics. The government is
attempting a holistic approach to improve healthcare for the orang Asli that is in line
with modernisation and development. There are many initiatives to enhance this
minority group. JAKOA has carried out three initiatives in the Ninth Malaysia Plan
(2006–2010), such as the Structured Settlements Development Programme,
Economic Development Programme and Social Development Programme. These
three initiatives have been further empowered in the 10th Malaysia Plan (2011–2015).
It is hoped that through those initiatives, the Orang Asli’s quality of life will be
upgraded and assimilated into surrounding economies and development. To date,
the government has built 20 health treatment stations, four health transit centres,
one Orang Asli specialist hospital and two rural clinics, which are located near
resettlement areas. These infrastructure will benefit more than 20,000 Orang Asli
families. Additionally, government agencies have established complementary health
Orang Asli Health and Mortality in Hulu Terengganu, Malaysia