Ajis Sitin said many young people had chosen to return to their hometowns as they faced various challenges living in the city.

“After finishing Form 5, the Orang Asli youth return to their villages to help their parents with traditional work.

“Not even 10% of them enter universities and an even smaller number enrol for technical and vocational education and training (TVET) or remain in the city to work because they think it is unsafe,” he told FMT.

Ajis said this created a negative mindset among the Orang Asli as no matter the level of education the youth received, the majority of them ended up back in their villages for work.

He said this deterred many Orang Asli children from furthering their education.

“Many of them are unemployed. Yes, the government does sponsor them to study in public, private or even overseas learning institutions but after they complete their studies, they are left without a job.”

Ajis suggested that the government take a comprehensive approach to ensure Orang Asli children received primary education and employment offers.

He said Putrajaya could place a number of the community’s youth in the Orang Asli development department (Jakoa).

“Jakoa has more than 1,000 jobs but they are filled by non-Orang Asli.

“The government can allocate a certain quota to us like they did for the civil service.

“This is in line with Article 8(5)(c) of the Federal Constitution pertaining to Orang Asli rights.”

Ajis said the Orang Asli hoped that the unity government, led by Anwar Ibrahim, could reform Jakoa for the betterment of the community, adding that the government should provide assistance to Orang Asli youth until they were independent.