He said while the Orang Asli have lived in structural poverty for decades, the Covid-19 pandemic and the recent floods have further impoverished the community, many of whom survive on daily wages from fishing.

He said their homes have been badly damaged and they suffer other devastating losses, estimated at RM4,000 per household at the minimum.

“A new approach would be to get the government to provide a minimum wage of RM1,200, put in place a social protection system and safety mechanisms that are accessible to the community.

“We have treated the Orang Asli like sub-humans for decades. It’s time to change the reality,” the DAP MP said in a statement today.

Santiago said many of the Orang Asli families have children they can hardly support.

“Therefore, they end up borrowing money or goods from their relatives in the neighbourhood, including sanitary pads because of period poverty, milk powder and dry food,” he said.

He said the Orang Asli who are fishermen are self-employed and do not subscribe to Socso and EPF.

It was reported on Dec 24 that Orang Asli villagers stranded by the floods in Selangor, Kedah and Kelantan are in desperate need of food and other necessities.

Centre for Orang Asli Concerns coordinator Colin Nicholas said 14 Orang Asli villages in Selangor have been inundated by floodwaters and their residents need help.

In Kampung Jeram, Kedah, floods have affected 387 Orang Asli villagers causing them to move to higher ground.