Saturday April 18, 2009
No problems working with the orang asli
WHILE most employers prefer foreign workers to the orang asli, Noor Khazaka Mohd, more commonly known as the “boss” at Desa Temuan, Damansara Perdana, has been hiring only orang asli since he set up his business 15 years ago.
“They can be good workers, if you know how to deal with their habits,” said the managing director of Delima Sejagat Sdn Bhd which offers maintenance services such as weeding, cleaning and sweeping the streets.
The common perception is that orang asli are lazy workers, but Khazaka reckoned that they are only lazy to go to work, but they can be industrious when at work.
“They are just this strange group who are not easily motivated, but once you get them to the work place, they can be hardworking,” he said when interviewed recently at his office in Kampung Bukit Lanjan.
His friendship with the orang asli began in his childhood when he used to play football with them at their land reserve in Bukit Lanjan.
Their carefree nature remains despite the complete change of the surroundings.
“They don’t like to be controlled, that is why I never scold any of my 35 workers even though they have done wrong.
“They hate to be manipulated, they stay away from employers whom they find dishonest and many in the past did try to take advantage of them,” he said.
Khazaka also provides a weekly credit facility, something welcomed by the orang asli who are not born good financial managers.
The debts will be paid off with their monthly salaries.
Wednesday is the company’s Blissful Day as the workers will receive the loan.
They will celebrate with good food and some alcohol and Khazaka’s assistant will need to personally wake them up the next day to send them to work.
They appreciate regular feasts and excursions; the company is also glad to organise such activities as a gesture of appreciation.
“I think it is my obligation to provide working opportunities to the indigenous persons instead of turning to foreign workers and deepening the country’s dependency on foreign manpower,” he said, encouraging other companies to engage orang asli.
“In this day and age, we eat to live but many orang asli still hold the live to eat attitude.
“We are trying to change their perception and I think apart from the government, the private sector should also help them adapt to urbanisation as they also are a part of our society,” he added.
Source:
RSS
