KUALA LUMPUR – The Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) is detailing its proposal to raise pocket money for Orang Asli students from RM2 currently to RM5, said Deputy Rural Development Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad.
He said towards this end, Jakoa has held a workshop on guidelines or standard operating procedures (SOPs) relating to the issue on December 4-6.
“Following that, Jakoa is in the process of preparing the cabinet notes to be submitted to the Rural Development Ministry for onwards consideration by the cabinet.
“However, it depends on the rate approved by the Finance Ministry in view of the current financial constraints of the government,” he said when winding up debate on the Supply Bill 2021 in the Dewan Negara today.
Before this, Senator Datuk Isa Ab Hamid, during the debate session, had proposed that the pocket money for Orang Asli students be raised from RM2 to RM10 a day to encourage school attendance among students from the community, and that RM10 is more suited due the increased cost of living.
Meanwhile, Rahman said Jakoa was also evaluating a proposal to prepare a specific design for Orang Asli houses using local materials and resources with the cooperation of the Board of Architects Malaysia.
He said that if the proposal can be realised, it will bring the cost of construction down and more can be built and delivered faster to those who need them. – Bernama, December 23, 2020
