Big day: The Orang Asli community attending the opening ceremony of the Orang Asli One Stop Centre (OAOSC) in Bawong. — Bernama
SUNGAI SIPUT: More Orang Asli One-Stop Centres (OAOSC) will be set up to serve as drivers of economic and social activities for the community.
Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Rubiah Wang said the centre in Bawong here was built as a pilot project, with another to be built in Gua Musang, Kelantan.
She said the site for the project in Gua Musang had been acquired last year and the project is scheduled for completion in 2028.
“The Bawong centre benefits 7,200 Orang Asli from 39 villages. It was completed in 2020 at a cost of RM166.4mil.
“The purpose of the centre is to bridge the development gap between urban and rural areas, in addition to increasing the involvement of Orang Asli in the economic, social and cultural sectors while maximising the government’s service system to the people,” she added.
Rubiah said this at a press conference after opening the Bawong centre in conjunction with the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, which falls on Aug 9, Bernama reported.
Also present were Orang Asli Entrepreneur and Economic Development Secretariat chairman Datuk Ramli Mohd Nor, Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) director-general Sapiah Mohd Nor and Perak rural development, plantation, agriculture and food industry committee chairman Datuk Mohd Zolkafly Harun.
Regarding the Bawong centre, she said it had been operating since 2021 and serving the residents of Kampung Bawong, Pos Perwor, RPS Legap, Pos Yum, Pos Kuala Mu, Pos Poi and Pos Piah.The centre houses the Jakoa district office, shops, Malaysian Cocoa Board branch office, a multi-purpose hall, a bus terminal and a police booth.
