Peninsular Malaysia Orang Asli Villages Network (JKOASM) director Tijah Yok Chopil said the Orang Asli, in principle, supported the government’s Solidarity for Rohingya assembly slated for Dec 4, but wondered whether problems affecting their own citizens were being ignored.

“I heard that the federal government and PAS, including the Kelantan menteri besar, will be at the Stadium Titiwangsa in Kuala Lumpur this Sunday to show their support for the Rohingyas.

“I support what they’re doing, but we are disappointed that they are forgetting the Orang Asli in Gua Musang. I am especially disappointed in PAS. If it is a Muslim government, then it should consider what is really happening,” he told FMT.

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi recently said that a rally would be held on Dec 4 to show Malaysia’s concern about the issues affecting the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.

Prime Minister Najib Razak and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang will be leading the rally and invitations have gone out to other Muslim-majority parties, including PKR and Amanah.

On a related matter, Tijah rejected the claims by the authorities and certain individuals that the Orang Asli were protesting against loss of their land rights after being influenced by certain parties.

“That’s an insult and makes the Orang Asli look like they’re stupid.

“As a person of faith, I consider that accusation a sin. Orang Asli are God’s creations and have been given the capability to think,” he said.

The association has urged the state and federal governments to come to the negotiating table to see how problems affecting the Orang Asli can be solved.