Cameron Highlands MP Ramli Mohd Nor, who is also the country’s sole Orang Asli MP, had made the allegation earlier today.

The Jakoa director-general’s position fell vacant last month at the end of Juli Edo’s two-year contract.

An agency under the rural development ministry, Jakoa is entrusted with managing the affairs of the Orang Asli community.

The minister, Abdul Latiff Ahmad, said that as per Article 8 (5)c of the Federal Constitution, appointing a qualified member of the Orang Asli community from within the civil service as the Jakoa director-general has always been its goal.

“Therefore, the issue of civil servants appointing a successor is not true because the process is still being discussed and analysed,” he said in a statement today.

“The nomination of the Jakoa director-general is carried out in accordance with the procedures set under the authority of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong as stipulated in Section 5 of the Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954.”

He added that the selection of candidates is based on several criteria, such as extensive experience in administration, financial management, project management, socio-economic development as well as close cooperation with government agencies and NGOs.