It said the bus operators had discontinued their services as a result.

In a statement today, Jakoa director-general Juli Edo said the department had enough money to pay the bus operators but current rules require that consent be first given by the finance ministry.

“Jakoa had submitted the application for payment of services for April, May and June 2019 to the finance ministry.”

In a later posting on Facebook, Jakoa said it had received an approval letter from the finance ministry for the payments.

“Payments will be done immediately,” it added.

The issue cropped up yesterday after Cameron Highlands MP Ramli Mohd Nor said many of these bus operators had not been paid for five months, making it difficult for them to carry on operating.

“How could the government allow this to happen? They must explain and resolve this matter immediately,” Ramli, the country’s first Orang Asli MP, said in a statement.

Ramli said the failure by the Prime Minister’s Department and Jakoa’s own shortcomings would prevent Orang Asli children from attending classes.

He said this is one reason why the dropout rate among Orang Asli is high every year.

“Such things never occurred when Barisan Nasional formed the government,” he added.