COMMENT | Covid-19 vaccination: Save our Orang Asli first
COMMENT | Is the Covid 19 vaccination programme a sanctuary towards a status quo between our need to continue living healthy as per the usual norms or be prepared to succumb to critical illnesses and possibly face death?
While the country grips and takes all the necessary precautionary measures to ensure almost 80 percent of its population are vaccinated in the three stages of a vaccination programme within a year, one crucial segment of our society who are known to be extremely vulnerable have seemed to be once again forgotten and ignored - our indigenous community, the Orang Asli.
What we have been informed so far by our government in the proposed vaccination programme seemed disappointing and short-sighted.
The first stage of the vaccination programme is for the medical staff, frontliners, politicians.
The second stage is for the most vulnerable citizens, individuals over the age of 60, and lastly the general public.
The question arises as to when the government will realise that the Orang Asli community falls within the most vulnerable segment...
COMMENT | Is the Covid 19 vaccination programme a sanctuary towards a status quo between our need to continue living healthy as per the usual norms or be prepared to succumb to critical illnesses and possibly face death?
While the country grips and takes all the necessary precautionary measures to ensure almost 80 percent of its population are vaccinated in the three stages of a vaccination programme within a year, one crucial segment of our society who are known to be extremely vulnerable have seemed to be once again forgotten and ignored - our indigenous community, the Orang Asli.
What we have been informed so far by our government in the proposed vaccination programme seemed disappointing and short-sighted.
The first stage of the vaccination programme is for the medical staff, frontliners, politicians.
The second stage is for the most vulnerable citizens, individuals over the age of 60, and lastly the general public.
The question arises as to when the government will realise that the Orang Asli community falls within the most vulnerable segment of our communities which needs to be vaccinated immediately, as much as we need to vaccinate and protect our politicians or frontliners.
It's well known and documented that the Orang Asli communities do not have sufficient nutrition or a balanced immunity to naturally fight this dangerous virus. Sixty percent of our Orang Asli endures with a daily food intake comprising tapioca ( ubi kayu), herbs, jungle vegetables, river water etc.
This food source is not a balanced diet to create a natural immunity against Covid-19.
It's almost impossible for some of them to survive if they contract Covid-19 and are not treated in a hospital but merely quarantined at their kampung.
Despite some aid from the government in supplying food baskets during quarantine, their daily food intake is insufficient. This is due to the many children per household, and they are often forced to forage in a nearby jungle in search of food. They could just spread this virus to another Orang Asli from a different village unknowingly and unintentionally. Hence, this pandemic will spread.
Why do we keep punishing our Orang Asli again and again?
Vaccinate our Orang Asli population as urgently as the need has arisen for us to protect our front liners or politicians.
How do we distinguish whom among these politicians deserved to be vaccinated first? There are members of Parliament and State Legislative Assembly, Yang Berhormat who have not visited their constituents or been responsible elected representatives of the people until today. Some YB's have been missing ever since the last elections in 2018.
While some are still in tears over the loss of power and glory when a new government was formed, the rest are still strategising on how to use their popularity, beliefs and ideologies to collapse this government. Many of these politicians are not worthy of being bestowed the recognition of a noble award called "Yang Berhormat".
Hence, why should they be vaccinated first?
What is so special of these politicians that we need to once again protect and ensure their safety when they have not delivered what was promised to us previously, while we endure this pandemic?
It's my firm belief that the government needs to be more responsible and only select politicians that have served their constituents to the best of their abilities.
Save our Orang Asli first. They deserve to live and remain alive as much as these politicians.
RAMESH ARUMUGAM CHETTIAR is founder of the Koperasi Pembangunan Orang Asli and an Orang Asli activist.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
