The article reports on the concerns of the Orang Asli community in Kampung Sentosa (Lenga), Muar, Johor ahead of the Johor State Election. A community leader, Ayu Enn (aged 52), who is the Tok Batin (village head), appealed to the new state government that will be elected not to forget about the Orang Asli. They want their rights, especially customary land rights, to finally be resolved, as their land applications have been pending for a long time despite repeated submissions. 

Ayu said that while basic services like water, electricity, education and healthcare are largely available, the unresolved issue is the formal recognition and ownership of their ancestral land. He suggested that once customary land rights are recognized, JAKOA (the Department of Orang Asli Development) can oversee and work with other agencies to formalize it without the need for repeated applications. 

Another resident, Amer Sidan (aged 57), echoed this frustration, saying that such land issues have persisted through generations. They urged whichever party wins the election not to ignore the Orang Asli community and to treat them as part of “Keluarga Malaysia” (the Malaysian family). 

A local woman named Siah (aged 52) also voiced a hope for skills training opportunities, such as sewing and handicrafts, noting that earlier requests for tools and sewing machines had gone unanswered, and that women in the village want to learn but lack the necessary equipment. 

Overall, the community’s message is that political candidates should remember and address their longstanding land and development concerns once they are elected.