Aranols (right) and Kamarudin painting the new toilets in Kampung Rantau Panjang, Pahang.
EIGHT Orang Asli communities in Pahang have gained access to proper toilets, courtesy of Nestle (M) Bhd.
The food and beverage manufacturer collaborated with Global Peace Foundation on the project.
The non-governmental organisation is focused on building cohesive and resilient Orang Asli communities, and has reached out to villages over the years to encourage better hygiene practices and end the habit of open defecation.
The villagers were given materials to build their own toilets, with water supply connected to nearby water sources using solar-powered pumps.
Nestle chief executive officer Juan Aranols was thrilled to receive a warm welcome during a visit to the villages.
Rohani describes having toilets as a luxury.
He said the company would like to continue supporting underprivileged communities in the country and enable them to access safe and clean water.
“Safe water translates to better hygiene and sanitation.
“The community will have a better life and with good hygiene, they will also be healthier,” said Aranols.
“There are some ongoing projects in Pahang and we have just started similar initiatives in Negri Sembilan,” he added.
Global Peace Foundation chief executive officer Dr Teh Su Thye said the villagers usually needed to walk a distance to take their baths.
Worse still, he said that many Orang Asli women had to defecate in the open.
Wati says the toilets have made it easier for her to take care of her young children.
“Although the practice is a norm, the people, especially women, are not comfortable with it anymore.
“In the past, there were dense forested areas around where they lived.
“But now many parts of the land have been turned into plantations and the women now lack privacy,” he said.
Aranols (left) and Dr Teh (right) posing with village chief Jeleta who built the toilets in Kampung Jenit, Bandar Muadzam Shah, Pahang.
Dr Teh said the toilets were built at a central location, to be shared by four or five families.
One of the villages benefitting from the initiative is Kampung Rantau Panjang.
The villagers built themselves two toilets and a washroom that can be used to bathe and wash clothes.
Its village chief Tok Batin Mat Chantek said there were still many areas without electricity and water supply.
“The Orang Asli Development Department is trying to help get the power and water supplies connected to the village.
“This may take some time to implement, so we appreciate the help from the corporate sector and non-governmental organisations,” he said.
Among the many happy villagers was Rohani Chandik, 39, who described having toilets as a luxury.
The mother-of-six is grateful she does not have to ease herself in the bushes anymore.
“Even at night or when it rains, we still had to go to the bushes. I am afraid of what could be hiding in the bushes.
“The new toilets have provided more convenience,” she said.
Nestle and Global Peace Foundation employees teaching the Orang Asli children of Kampung Rantau Panjang, Pahang, the proper method to wash hands and brush teeth.
Another villager Kamarudin Pak Bayan, 47, was so happy with the toilets that he decided to decorate them with rattan weaves over the ventilation holes.
“I am good at handiwork and this is my way of showing appreciation,” he said.
Another village that benefitted from the project was Kampung Jenit.
Its village chief, Tok Batin Jeleta Jenal, 58, took it upon himself to build the toilets for his villagers.
He said that although people offered help, the villagers must also try to help themselves.
“I am good at building but have never used bricks and cement. So I tried my best and used a trial-and-error method.
“There were some parts that I had to redo but I was happy to do it.
“I am also very proud of the finished work and look forward to building more facilities for the villagers,” he said.
Mother-of-two Wati Ta Ayah, 27, said the toilet facility had made it easier for her to take care of her young children.
“I do not need to go far to fetch water. Getting my children ready for school has become easier.”
The building of the toilets is an extension of Nestle’s “Safe Water, Safe Communities” programme launched in 2018, which aims to provide Orang Asli communities with access to clean water for better sanitation and hygiene.
In the initial stages of the programme, water filters were distributed to the villagers to enable them to filter murky water before it is used for cooking and drinking.
Later, solar-powered water pumps were installed to connect water sources to villagers’ homes, ending the need for them to fetch water physically.
The Orang Asli villagers were also taught the importance of protecting the water sources and how to maintain personal hygiene, namely washing hands and brushing teeth, through Nestle’s Wash programme.
To date, Nestle has contributed 449 water filters and helped build 62 toilets for 691 Orang Asli families totalling 5,549 people around Peninsular Malaysia.
