| Universiti Putra Malaysia

UPM builds houses for Orang Asli in Kampung Batu 5, Tapah


By: Yasmin Yusoff & Noor Eszereen Juferi
Photo By: Mohd Hasrul Hamdan

TAPAH, April 25 – The Faculty of Design and Architecture (FRSB), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), has been involved in the construction of comfortable Teratak Semai home project for the Orang Asli community in Kampung Batu 16, Tapah, Perak.

State Assemblyman for Chenderiang, Datuk Dr. Mah Hang Soon said the Chenderiang ADUN Office and the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) also extended their cooperation  in building the houses which adopted a self-building housing concept where family members of house owners were also involved in the construction of these economically-designed and comfortable homes.

“Teratak Semai Project is aimed at replacing the old houses of Orang Asli with better and stronger homes that feature new house building techniques,” he said.

He thanked UPM for its assistance and expertise rendered to the Orang Asli who needed a conducive home for living and sharing of house-building knowledge to the community.

House owner, Suria d/o Bah Kasim, 49, expressed her gratitude as the Orang Asli had now secured a new settlement from the project.

“The construction of the houses using bamboos and Bertam leaves are suitable with the needs of the people in this village and there is more space for the bedroom and toilet,” she said.



UPM Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Datin Paduka Dr.Aini Ideris said the project formed an integration and network program between UPM, local communities, government organizations and the private sector.

“Through this project, transfer of knowledge and skills can be done in terms of house building techniques which are simple and basic for the local people to understand while UPM students, on their part, will gain that much-needed experience while carrying out the project and understand the culture of the Semai Orang Asli,” she said.

Dean of UPM FRSB, Assoc. Prof. Lar. Dr. Osman Mohd Tahir, meanwhile, said the project involved three phases where 16 new units had been built since 2016 until last February.

“This program will soon enter the fourth stage where 18 houses will be built from the 600 applications submitted from those interested to participate in this project. The self-building construction indirectly provides the autonomy for house owners to design their house based on their own needs,” he said.

This community project also received the cooperation from the private sector which indirectly proved their confidence

 


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