JAKOA Allocation Increased To RM445 Million Under Budget 2027 To Upgrade Orang Asli Education And Utilities

GUA MUSANG, Oct 13 – The Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA) has received an allocation of RM445 million under Budget 2027—an increase of RM24 million—to broaden educational access and enhance basic utility infrastructure for Orang Asli communities, particularly the Temiar tribe in the interior of Kelantan.

Kelantan and Terengganu JAKOA Director Mohd Faedzyal Mohamed stated that the funding expansion is vital for raising living standards, boosting socioeconomic mobility, and closing the infrastructure divide between rural indigenous settlements and urban centers.

The financial boost was originally announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during the tabling of Budget 2027 last Friday.

Preschool Construction, Solar Infrastructure, and Community Inclusion

The expanded allocation targets critical early education and rural power infrastructure across remote settlements:

• Early Childhood Education Expansion: JAKOA will construct new preschool facilities at Kampung Orang Asli (KOA) Angkek and Pos Belatim in Gua Musang to ensure young children in remote settlements receive early access to quality education.
• Solar Utility Projects: Pos Gob is slated to receive large-scale solar lighting infrastructure developed in collaboration with Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) to improve night safety and quality of life for residents.
• Inclusive Inter-Agency Collaboration: Kelantan and Terengganu JAKOA will strengthen partnerships with federal ministries, state agencies, the private sector, and local community leaders to deliver tailored development without disrupting indigenous heritage or lifestyle sustainability.
• Community Leadership Support: Kelantan Orang Asli Chief Penghulu Bidi Ronggeng, 48, welcomed the initiative, highlighting that the new preschool in Kampung Angkek is urgently required given the high population density within the Kuala Betis Resettlement Scheme (RPS).

JAKOA remains committed to ensuring that development projects directly reflect the immediate needs of remote Orang Asli communities across the East Coast.

–NMT