GUA MUSANG, Aug 23 —  For the 225 Orang Asli residents of Kampung Ladoi here, heavy rain can turn the main access road to the village into a muddy stretch, making it difficult for children to get to school and emergency aid to reach the community.

Anor Aznan, 46, of the Temiar tribe said the muddy paths and poor condition of the road linking Kampung Ladoi and Kampung Redip had raised concerns among parents over their children’s safety travelling to and from school.

She said the situation also posed difficulties for residents in obtaining essential supplies, accessing medical treatment and seeking other services outside the village.

“We hope the road will be upgraded as it is the main access route for residents. When it rains, the road gets muddy and becomes difficult to pass, especially for children going to Sekolah Kebangsaan Kuala Betis and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Panggung Jaya,” she told reporters here today.

Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) welfare and health worker Anuar Along said Kampung Ladoi residents depended heavily on the road to get in and out of the village due to its remote location.

He said the poor road conditions also made emergency response difficult, with the narrow route becoming increasingly difficult to navigate during the monsoon season.

“This situation makes my job difficult because when there is an emergency, I have to leave the village just to find a place with a phone signal before I can inform JAKOA and ask for help,” he said.

Meanwhile, Galas assemblyman Datuk Mohd Syahbuddin Hashim said he would submit an application to the relevant agency for the road to be upgraded, which was important to residents’ daily activities and their children’s education. — Bernama