Merge Nenggiri and Galas for a Orang Asli majority seat

There is a need to create an Orang Asli predominant constituency in Kelantan and this could be best achieved by merging the state seats of Galas and Nenggiri, said former Kelantan state legislative assembly speaker Datuk Wan Abdul Rahim Wan Abdullah.

“This would be an ideal seat. Merging Galas and Nenggiri seats would give a sizable voice to the Orang Asli community,” he said.

He said this can be done when the Election Commission conducts its redelineation exercise.

Having a Orang Asli majority seat is vital so that the Orang Asli can raise issues that are harming their lifestyle.

“They face credible threats requiring sustained political resolve, such as pollution and harm to their way of life. Relying on other politicians may not be effective, as it takes one Orang Asli to understand another and why they prefer to remain within the jungle,” he said.

Rapid development in Gua Musang have affected the Orang Asli way of life and habitat especially for the community who are living in the outskirts of the jungles in Lojing Highlands.

Media had previously reported that the Orang Asli community planned to use the upcoming Nenggiri by election to raise the issue of rampant land clearing for development .

The development caused led to wildlife encroachment, contaminated water resources, destruction of agriculture land, flash floods and rampant mudslides.

Nenggiri has about 2,700 registered Orang Asli voters who make up 13.84% of the voters there. Malays are the largest vote bloc at 85.93%. The Chinese and Indians are made up of 0.20% and 0.03%.

Umno named its Kelantan Umno Youth chief Mohd Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani to contest the seat for the unity government against Bersatu’s Rizwadi Ismail of Perikatan Nasional.