KUALA LUMPUR: An MP called on the government to provide fairer treatment to the Orang Asli community according to equal rights under the law set for the community.

       Datuk Ramli Mohd Nor (BN-Cameron Highlands) (pic) said on Wednesday (March 9) that the special position of the Orang Asli community was recognised by the High Court, and even enshrined under Article 8 (5) (C) of the Federal Constitution.

       “The land of the Orang Asli community needs to be amended in the Constitution where Orang Asli are placed under federal jurisdiction, (while) the land is under the state government.

       "Previously, (health) was under the Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) and the community had a special hospital (with no medical fee charged), but the government's policy was changed and it was placed under the Health Ministry, so there must be a suitable committee to manage the health of the Orang Asli community," he said during the debate session on the Royal Address at the Dewan Rakyat here Wednesday.

       He said that under the chapter of marriage, Jakoa and the National Registration Department (NRD) must register the community's marriages through Tok Batin (tribal headman) to avoid problems.

       Apart from that, the MP also touched on the fate of interim teachers who have not been absorbed into permanent positions, which was raised by Natrah Ismail (PH-Sekijang).

       Natrah had urged the Education Ministry to absorb teachers who have passed the interview into permanent positions instead of taking non-education graduates like the previous one-off recruitment.

       "These teachers should be given priority to enter the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PDPP) Programme, at the Institute for Teacher Education to overcome the nationwide shortage of teachers," she said.

       Natrah also sought clarification from the Education Ministry on the position of interim teachers who are currently on duty, whether they will be terminated when their contracts expire.

       Meanwhile, the issue of floods continued to get attention when several MPs raised the issue, including Chang Lih Kang (PH-Tanjong Malim), Shaharizukirnain Abd Kadir (PAS-Setiu) and Baru Bian (PSB-Selangau).

       The Dewan Rakyat sitting continues Thursday (March 10). - Bernama