GUA MUSANG, Aug 17 (Bernama) -- The ‘One Pos, One Adopted University’ concept, under which higher education institutions adopt and support Orang Asli settlements, will be expanded to rural areas in Gua Musang to strengthen access to education and socioeconomic development.
Galas state assemblyman Datuk Mohd Syahbuddin Hashim said the concept was among the initiatives under the ‘Be Ades Ma Kampung’ programme, which aims to narrow the socioeconomic gap between the Orang Asli community, government agencies and educational institutions.
He said Universiti Malaysia Kelantan and Kolej Poly-Tech MARA were involved in the first series of the programme, while Universiti Utara Malaysia would participate in the second.
“My intention is to establish the ‘One Pos, One Adopted University’ concept in this Gua Musang district,” he told reporters when met at Pos Balar here.
Mohd Syahbuddin said the involvement of higher education institutions could expand access to education and contribute to the socioeconomic development of the Orang Asli community.
He added that Agrobank had also expanded its presence in the interior through physical counters to enable the community to open savings accounts and improve financial literacy.
He said the programme, involving 193 volunteers, also marked National Month celebrations through the distribution of Jalur Gemilang flags and food baskets to 1,283 heads of households (KIR) in Pos Hau, Pos Balar, Pos Belatim and Pos Bihai.
According to him, the programme also helped address basic infrastructure issues, including rural access roads in Kampung Sempadik and a multipurpose hall in Pos Balar, as well as the construction of a new hall in Kampung Tapai, Pos Hau.
Mohd Syahbuddin said a proposal to establish a rural health clinic in Pos Balar was also being studied, while six series of the programme would be implemented before the Malaysia Day celebration at the Kuala Betis Resettlement Scheme (RPS) on Sept 16.
-- BERNAMA