Kuala Lumpur:Kelantan: A total of 184 documentation matters involving the Orang Asli community in remote areas have been resolved through the National Registration Department's (NRD) Menyemai Kasih Rakyat (MEKAR) programme.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Kelantan NRD director Halimatusaadiah Ramli @ Mohd Shah stated that these cases included 101 identity card replacements, 61 MyKid applications, 15 first-time identity card applications, five amendments to identity card details, and two amendments to birth certificates.

The MEKAR programme, part of the Kembara Be Ades Ma Kampung initiative in the Galas state constituency, also provided registration and documentation advisory services to 270 residents. The programme aims to make NRD services more accessible to the Orang Asli community in remote areas.

Lela Rosli, a 37-year-old housewife from Pos Belatim, shared that the programme facilitated the replacement of the identity card for her 15-year-old son, Hadi Ifri Abdullah, who is bedridden. Financial and logistical difficulties previously hindered her ability to visit the NRD office, given her husband's low monthly income as a rubber tapper.

Galas assemblyman Datuk Mohd Syahbuddin Hashim announced that over 1,000 food baskets, each valued at approximately RM100, have been distributed to Orang Asli communities in Pos Hau, Pos Balar, Pos Bihai, and Pos Belatim. This distribution was advanced to ensure sufficient food supplies before the Northeast Monsoon disrupts access to these areas.

The food baskets, funded by the Galas assemblyman's service centre in collaboration with strategic partners, include essentials such as rice, flour, cooking oil, and sugar. Distribution is managed through village representatives based on the latest household data. Residents are advised to avoid travel during heavy rain and consult the Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA) for road condition updates.