My Conversation with Orang Asli. A father mourns the death of his 12 year old daughter

A 12 year old girl died at Kampong Dedari at Taman Negara. She was fondly known as Ern died possibly due to Tonsillitis. According to Mua the father of Ernn no doctors visited and no proper medication was offered. She was not well for 4 days and died.

She died on the 20th July 2011 and it has been more than a month no health care officers, doctors or staff of the Orang Asli welfare department visited them.

I can understand if doctors cannot visit PENANs and PUNANs in Sarawak but here at Taman Negara just an hour drive form Jerantut town to Kuala Tahan and 20 minutes boat ride to the Orang Asli Village. Why Ministry of Health cannot provide a proper Health Care for the Orang Asli ?

At Taman Negara a visit to the Orang Asli village will cost per-person RM90.00 per tourist however not a single cents goes to the Orang Asli. Activities at the Orang Asli village blow pipe and they will demonstrate how to make fire with out a match. In return tour leaders/guides will collect RM5 per tourist. The amount collected might not reach the TOK BATIN or the village head.

My conversation with the father who lost a 12 year old daughter.

Taman Negara visitor's statistics. 1984 -1993.

Taman Negara Visitor 2001 -2005.

Taman Negara Permit and Licence fee.

I will leave it to you to make your own judgment. Children at the Orang Asli village at Taman Negara needs Education and proper Health Care.