| Universiti Putra Malaysia

Semaq Beri tribe’s graduate wants to be an inspiration to Orang Asli community

By: Nurul Ezzaty Mohd Azhari
Photo by: Creative Media Section and Corporate Visibility

SERDANG, March 20 - "Who says Orang Asli can't succeed?,” said Amyza Jamaludin, a graduate of the Bachelor of Arts (Malay Literature), Faculty of Modern Languages ​​and Communication (FBMK), and an Orang Asli from the Semaq Beri tribe.

Amyza was also the only Orang Asli Semaq Beri who graduated from the programme. She said many Orang Asli communities out there, especially in rural areas, still do not know how to further their studies at a university.

She said she wanted to inspire the Orang Asli community, especially those in the rural areas, such as the Orang Asli village in Gua Musang, Kelantan, so that they too could enter a university.

"I want to open the eyes of the Orang Asli community that education is important, and it can change the fate of a family," she said.

She added that in her village located in Kampung Orang Asli Batu 55 Maran Pahang, only a minority of them continued their studies, and she hoped the Orang Asli community could get rid of the perception that Orang Asli children are unable to continue their studies.

"The Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA) always helps the Orang Asli community who wants to continue their studies, and I received sponsorship from JAKOA, which really helped me financially," she said.

She mentioned that JAKOA would also help the Orang Asli family members who are less fortunate if their children want to continue their studies.

The third child of the seven siblings said the Orang Asli community could change the fate of their families with exposure to the world of education.

Meanwhile, Amyza also dreamed of meeting the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato' Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, as he was also a Pahang-born, just like Amyza. - UPM

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