Orang Asli villagers counting down to road’s completion

FOLK in Kampung Peta, Mersing are looking forward to the completion of a road construction project that will pave the way to better access to their village.

Tok Batin (village head) Rampuyin Kantan said that for decades, those who wanted to enter the village, located within Endau-Rompin Johor National Park, could only do so in four-wheel-drive vehicles due to road conditions.

The national park has two official entry points: the eastern Peta entrance in Mersing district and southwerstern Selai entrance in Segamat.

“My village is accessible through Peta. Visitors have to take a 90-minute drive on a dirt road and continue on a tarred surface for another 30 minutes.

“The journey is quite bumpy and becomes worse when it rains.

“We were very happy when we found out that the authorities were constructing a proper road. Villagers and visitors can soon travel in and out in cars and motorcycles.”

Rampuyin said Endau-Rompin Peta park was a popular destination for nature lovers.

“Hopefully when the project is completed, it will bring in more visitors and improve ecotourism activities here.

“This will benefit the 300 or so villagers in Kampung Peta who mostly depend on farming, rubber tapping and manual labour.”

He said the national park was equipped with chalets where visitors could spend the night.

Visitors including non-governmental organisations and government agencies would usually drop by at the village, located just a few minutes’ drive from the chalet, and interact with village folk, he added.

On other challenges faced by Kampung Peta, Rampuyin recalled some devastating floods.

“Earlier this year, our village was hit by floods twice and access was cut off.

Rampuyin says the village located within Endau-Rompin Johor National Park is only accessible with four-wheel-drive vehicles.

“In March, the flooding was more serious. Floodwaters rose to the roof of some houses and electricity was cut off.

“We could not contact the outside world and it took about two days before help arrived.

“It was quite a critical time as some of the villagers ran out of food.

“Thankfully, the village only suffered infrastructure damage and no lives were lost,” he said.

Rampuyin said Kampung Peta villagers belonged to the Jakun tribe, one of Johor’s largest Orang Asli tribes.

He said it had been challenging for the tribe to maintain its traditions.

“The villagers adhere to different faiths as some convert due to marriage or of their own choosing.

“I will always remind them to remember their roots as we have our own customs and practices.

“For instance, when there is a death in a Jakun family, it is customary to mourn for 100 days.

“This means there should be no fights, gambling or celebrations during that period.

“Those who break this rule will be fined. Back in the days when villagers had no money, penalties were ‘paid’ in rambutan or durian trees.”

Rampuyin said he once had to penalise a young villager marrying within 100 days of his mother’s death.

“This is also a way of educating younger Jakun people on the importance of respecting the dead as well as their elders,” he said.

Villager Nari Mahadi, 52, said she would often remind her children to stay true to their roots despite leaving the village to further their studies.

“I have seven children. My eldest daughter is studying medicine and my eldest son is studying to become a petroleum engineer.

“My husband and I have remained in the village where he works as a labourer.

“I help him by making handicraft such as headgear, fans and decorative items that are sold to visitors,” she said.

“We plant petai near our house to supplement our income.

“We also get by with the food aid distributed by non-governmental organisations from time to time,” said Nari.

She said the villagers enjoyed getting visitors who included research groups, university students and private companies.

“Through our interactions, we get to exchange views and also show them our way of life,” she added.

Caterer Sofiah Ismail said she was looking forward to the improved road connecting the village to Kahang town as this would bring in more visitors.

The 46-year-old said she started her own catering business after quitting her job as a purchasing department executive last year.

“I am based in Kluang and often receive orders to cook for groups that visit the national park.

“Having a tarred road will also be beneficial for me to drive into the village with my supplies,” she said.