Socio-economic satisfaction of Orang Asli in structured resettlement programme in the parliamentary constituency of Cameron Highlands

Previous studies have not yet to explore the differentiation among socio-economic aspects of the Orang Asli community in the Structured Resettlement Program (ie the Resettlement Program and the Village Resettlement Program) in Cameron Highlands Parliamentary Constituency. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to examine the differences in satisfaction of socio-economic aspects among Orang Asli within the Resettlement Program and Village Resettlement Program. In addition, the objective of study is to identify the sources of income and determine the expenditure of the Orang Asli community. Of the 2,260 heads of households of the Cameron Highlands Parliamentary Constituency, a total of 1,235 heads of households were involved as survey samples in the adopted survey method. For the information on income sources and forms of expenditure, the researcher used the daily log book method for a month. This logbook was given to 295 heads of households for all villages in the Betau Resettlement
Program (17 villages) and 13 villages in the Lenjang Village Resettlement Program. The analysis method used for the objectives of this study objectives was descriptive statistic. The main findings of the study were significant changes in socio-economic satisfaction, especially the income of the Resettlement Program and the Village Resettlement Program at 66 per cent and 61 per cent respectively as compared to socio-economic satisfaction before the existence of the Structured Resettlement Program. Whereas, as many as 70 percent of the Orang Asli are satisfied with the positive changes taking place in the socio-economic context after engaging with the Structured Resettlement Program. In addition, the findings from detailed analysis on income sources found that the Orang Asli were still strongly dependent on forest resources as their main sources of income. In fact, their expenditure was largely driven by the purchase of kitchen utensils rather than for children, schooling, personal accessory and so on. Therefore, in the context of research implications for current policy, the researcher suggests that policies related to the Structured Resettlement Program should be continued as the program demonstrates the success of transforming the socio-economy of Orang Asli.