Friday, October 19, 2012

A visit to the Orang Asli Settlement in Kampung Sungai Rual, Jeli, Kelantan

The visit was organised by the Kelab Kebajikan, Keceriaan & Mesra Ibadah (KKMI), Department of Radiology, Hospital USM (HUSM), Kubang Kerian, Kelantan. The purpose of the visit was to enable the staff to get a feel of the Orang Asli community way of life.





HUSM - 7.50am, before departure

We departed from HUSM at 8.40am. It took almost 3 hours to get to kampung Sungai Rual, Jeli from HUSM by bus. The distance from HUSM, Kubang Kerian to Jeli Town is 104 km and orang asli settlement located 25 km away from Jeli town.


we arrived at Kampung Sungai Rual Jeli 
about 11.30am

Upon arrival at Surau Kampung Sungai Rual around 11.50am, most of the villagers had gone home for lunch as it was nearly noon. We arrived at sungai Rual much later due to some unexpected problems, we were supposed to arrive at 10.30am

The river stream at Kampung Sungai Rual

Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Rual, Jeli.

Surau Kampung Sungai Rual, Jeli.
where our charity work took place.

one of the bamboo sheds in Kampung Sungai Rual,
where a family of orang asli resides in.

Salim, spokesman for the Orang Asli
community in Kampung Sungai Rual




waiting for the event to start...

We chatted with a few of the villagers, including Salim, who acted as a spokesman for the Orang Asli community Kampung Sungai Rual. They gave us some background information about their village. Most of them are muslims and fluent in kelantanese dialect. Some women tended to the kids while the men were out working as a labors in rubber and palm oil plantation to boost their income.

The settlement is equipped with treated water and electricity supply, community hall, surau and a primary school, Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Rual. Their life has changed a lot compared to the years before. Their community is no longer isolated from the current development. Speaking on behalf of the villagers, Salim sincerely hope the government continues to help their children to succeed in their studies so that they are not left far behind.





distribute the groceries to the 
Orang Asli villagers

Amin and Sabri giving out goodies 
to Orang Asli children

pack up the groceries for 150 families

There are three orang asli settlements in this area: Kampung Sungai Rual, Kampung Sungai Manok and Kampung kalok. These three settlements are located so close to each other. The total population are about 600 villagers from 150 families. 85% of them are underprivileged and only bare monthly incomes of about RM600 per month. They were from Jahai tribe who live along the rivers and lakes. Previously they live nomadic style, living in small groups in the jungles, move from place to other place due to illness, people dying, quarrel among them or additional of family members.


lunch at river bank, we really enjoyed 
it very much

Linda and Ayu posing for a picture

Group photo of the KKMI members and representatives
of Orang Asli community at the end of the event

Congratulations to all ... hope you all enjoyed the KKMI program and will join again next time. The program ended and we departed to HUSM at 3.40pm.

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