MELAKA: A group of 130 Orang Asli in Machap Jaya here have become the pioneer indigenous group in the country to be eligible for insurance compensation in case they get attacked by wild animals when looking for jungle products.
Apart from animal attacks, the community also will also enjoy a wide range of coverage when carrying out their traditional activities, said Melaka health, human resources and unity committee chairman Ngwe Hee Sem.
He said the move to get insurance coverage offered by the Social Security Organisation (Socso) for the community is aimed at protecting the welfare of the Orang Asli at seven villages in Alor Gajah.
“These villagers are from my constituency and I decided to pay for the Socso coverage for the community following an incident where an Orang Asli man was killed after falling from a tree while collecting bitter beans in 2022,” he said on Monday (Oct 9).
Earlier, Ngwe who is also the Machap Jaya assemblyman, had sponsored a one-year Socso coverage for media stringers during an event held at a leading hotel in Jalan Hang Tuah here on Monday (Oct 9).
The event was also attended by Melaka Socso director, Abd Razak Omar.
Ngwe said the coverage for the community is under Socso’s Self-Employment Social Security Scheme (SKSPS) to provide protection for individuals who are self-employed under the provisions of the Self-Employment Social Security Act 2017.
He said the scheme protects self-employed individuals against work-related injuries including occupational diseases and accidents including while travelling for the purpose of such activities.
Ngwe also noted that through the SKSPS contribution, the Orang Asli is eligible to receive eight benefits, such as medical, temporary disablement, permanent disablement, constant attendance allowance, funeral, education, dependents’ benefits and facilities for physical or vocational rehabilitation.
He said an annual contribution for each of the Orang Asli in his constituency costs RM46.60 and they will also be protected against wild animal attacks when roaming in the jungle.
The majority of the Orang Asli in the state is from the Temuan as well as Jakun tribes and the population is spread over Alor Gajah and Jasin districts.
Ngwe also hopes efforts are made to get Socso coverage for the community in other parts of the state.
“The population of Orang Asli in the state is estimated to be about 2,000 people living in 14 villages, hence I hope efforts are made by the state government to get Socso coverage for the community,” he added.
