Orang Asli women walk 15km to cast ballots

GUA MUSANG, Nov 19 (Bernama) -- By foot or by means of transportation, the Orang Asli community is determined to cast their ballots in the 15th general election today. 

Two Orang Asli women of the Temiar tribe chose to walk 15 kilometres (km) to the polling station at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Kuala Betis, here.

The two siblings walked for 30 minutes to fulfill their responsibility as voters for the Gua Musang parliamentary seat.

Abok Jurai Rudin, 29, and her sister Andak Rudin, 38, walked along the logging road while carrying her four-month-old son, Mangroi Seni.

Andak said that it was more convenient for them to walk. 

“We are so used to walking long distances, so walking to SK Kuala Betis is nothing to us. Furthermore, we use the logging road as the distance is shorter and protects us from the heat of tarred roads,” she said.

Upon their arrival at SK Kuala Betis, Abok and her baby were given a designated lane for registration to cast her ballot.

Meanwhile, in Alor Gajah, an Orang Asli man travelled for about 80 kilometres (km) from Jempol, Negeri Sembilan on his motorcycle to the Orang Asli settlement in Kampung Bukit Payung, Taboh Naning here.

Enjer Doi, 33, said the journey took two hours in heavy rain to ensure that his responsibilities as a voter were fulfilled.

"I work in Jempol and want to feel the atmosphere of voting here. It's fun to go out and vote with other families," he told reporters.

-- BERNAMA