GUA MUSANG: More than 5,000 Orang Asli residents in four remote settlements are expected to be cut off during the monsoon season due to damaged roads, landslides, and floods.
Galas assemblyman Datuk Mohd Syahbuddin Hashim said the affected settlements are Pos Bihai, Pos Belatim, Pos Balar, and Pos Hau, involving more than 1,000 heads of households.
He said six locations in the area have been identified as landslide hotspots that require immediate attention ahead of the monsoon season.
"Among the frequently affected locations are Bukit Pasir, Bukit Kelabu, Bukit Sabun, and Bukit Piyel. The Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) and parties implementing the Rural Link Road project have taken action at these sites previously.
"With the monsoon season approaching, these areas must receive proper attention and regular maintenance so that landslides do not jeopardise road users.
"Damaged and muddy roads also make it difficult for the Orang Asli community in remote areas to leave their settlements," he said when met at Pos Balar here.
It was reported yesterday that the
The Northeast Monsoon is expected to begin on Tuesday and continue until March next year.
Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) director-general Dr Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip said that consistent winds usually blow from the northeast during the monsoon.
Syahbuddin said slippery dirt tracks during heavy rain also heighten the risk of accidents for villagers travelling alone along ravine-adjacent roads.
He advised the Orang Asli community to avoid travelling along those routes during heavy downpours.
"If travelling alone, one cannot predict landslides or falling into a ravine where no one might notice.
"In an emergency, residents can contact Jakoa for assistance to evacuate patients from the villages," he said.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd