Villagers need help to register with Padu

The Orang Seletar or Orang Laut villagers in Johor are hoping that the Statistics Department will continue reaching out to them for the Central Data Hub (Padu) registration.

Yang Tom, 61, said not many villagers turned up when the department conducted the registration earlier this month.

“Only about 30 villagers turned up for the registration at the community hall,” said Yang at her sundry shop in Kampung Bakar Batu Perling, Johor Baru.

She said a day’s notice for the registration was not enough as some had other engagements or were out fishing at sea.

She hopes that the Johor Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) can arrange for another registration drive before the due date on March 31.

“Those who have yet to register told me that they were unaware of the registration held that day,” said Yang, who had registered with Padu during the drive.

Yang hopes the Johor Statistics Department can hold another registration drive at the village.

She hopes that with Padu in place, the Federal Government will allocate financial assistance to those who deserve it.

She said that prior to registering with Padu, she and several villagers received calls from individuals claiming that they would be able to assist them with the registration process.

“We know they are scammers because they ask for money and we are aware that the Padu registration is free,” Yang said.

Juliza Dol, 38, from Kampung Sungai Temon in Danga, said she registered with Padu last month at Kampung Teluk Kabung, Tanjung Puteri in Pasir Gudang.

Juliza says some missed out on registering with Padu as they were either out working or at sea.She registered at that village as it was the address in her MyKad.

“Coincidentally, I was spending a few days at my parents’ home and there was a registration drive for Padu,” she said, adding that her husband is from Kampung Sungai Temon.

Juliza said some villagers from Kampung Sungai Temon had registered with Padu but there were others who had missed the opportunity to do so.

She said some of them had gone out and only returned in the evening when the registration drive had ended.

“Hopefully, the officers can come again to our village to reach out to those who missed out,” she said.

Juliza added that the majority of Orang Asli in Kampung Simpang Arang, Gelang Patah and Kampung Kuala Masai in Masai had registered with Padu.

Separately, Yang said the number of anglers renting boats from Orang Seletar to fish at sea during Ramadan decreased and this affected their income.

She said that apart from renting boats to anglers, the villagers also earned an income from selling wat bakau (mangrove worms) at RM80 per kilogramme.

Orang Seletar are natives of the Straits of Johor, and they depend on the sea for their livelihood.

According to Jakoa, there are 18,845 Orang Asli in Johor with 60 villages recognised and registered with the department.