VEXED ORANG ASLI PROTEST
OVER ORANG ASLI HOSPITAL
Nigel Aw
Malaysiakini.com
24 February 2010
A group of Orang Asli activists today held a peaceful demonstration at the Orang Asli Affairs Department (JHEOA) hospital, Gombak over its policies, alleged poor services and two fatalities.
The group of 30 people from four states carried placards which, among others, read "Where is our medication?", "Hospital administration are powerful Al-Arqam people" and "We are not 'lain-lain'. Our race is 'Orang Asli' in government forms".
After chanting some slogans denouncing the hospital for about 10 minutes, the group submitted a petition with 90 signatures to a hospital representative.
In the petition, the protestors said that the hospital was negligent and patients are often subject to racist remarks by hospital staff.
The protestors claim that the inefficient hospital staff had affected their follow-up treatment and also complained about the hospital's inability to curb malnourish-ment among Orang Asli children.
"A lot of us have faced medical staff who are uncomfortable with the Orang Asli. Sometimes, they pass comments on our features and skin colour," read the petition.
Among others, the petition called for the Health Ministry to improve the state of healthcare for the Orang Asli and takeover the management of the hospital from JHEOA.
The petition also appealed for the appointment of more Orang Asli as hospital staff and administrators.
Two deaths
Speaking to reporters later, the group's spokesperson Sokyen Man said the hospital is currently dominated by non-Orang Asli who are incapable of fulfilling the needs of the community.
He adds that the petition was a reaction to seven police reports against the hospital, including two which claimed that there were two deaths as a result of negligence by the hospital.
Sokyen, left, and Ambiga.
"Orang Asli have been persecuted by the hospital authorities where there have been two deaths due to their negligence or lackadaisical attitude in assisting the Orang Asli," said Sokyen.
According to the police report, the two Orang Asli patients were not warded for dengue fever and were sent back. They died some time later.
Sokyen said the other police reports, by various individuals, were on threats issued by hospital administrators against patients and hospital staff.
DG: 'Old issue'
Later, JHEOA director-general Mohd Sani Mistam arrived at the scene and held a 15-minute meeting with Sokyen and Bar Council representative Ambiga Sreenevasan who was there as the group's lawyer.
"They have suggested that we take this matter to Suhakam, and we are going to do it," said Ambiga after the meeting.
Speaking to reporters later, Mohd Sani dismissed the allegations as an "old issue" which have already been investigated and a report is pending.
On the protestors' call for more Orang Asli to be absorbed as hospital staff, Mohd Sani said his department was already trying to do so but has problems finding qualified personnel.
Meanwhile, JHEOA deputy director-general for development Nisra Nisran Asra Ramlan who was at the scene, declined comment when asked about one of the police reports implicating him.
The protest today comes in the wake of serious allegations by JHEOA hospital staff Dr KP Selvaa Vathany who claimed that there was rampant malpractice, misappropriation of resources and other wrongdoings by its staff.
Selvaa has since been transferred to another hospital by the Health Ministry.
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