Bringing God’s love to the marginalised

Aug 30, 2019

By Bernard Anthony
An Outreach programme to Kampung Orang Asli S.E.K, located midway between Kampar and Tapah, by a group of Catholics from Kuala Lumpur took place on August 17, in conjunction with the Extraordinary Missionary Year.

The Orang Asli are the indigenous people and the oldest inhabitants of Peninsular Malaysia.The majority of them are considered poor (B40).About 76.9 per cent of the Orang Asli population remain beneath the poverty line. We have 35.2 per cent of them classified as living in hardcore poverty, compared to 1.4 per cent nationally (Department of Statistics Malaysia, 2010).

The small village consists of 200 Orang Asli, comprising 35 families. Twenty-one are Catholic families. Some 65 Orang Asli were present in the modest chapel with Fr Michael Dass when the 40 Catholics from KL arrived, just in time for a special Mass.

Fr Michael, the parish priest of the Church of St Mary in Tapah, is also in-charge of the pastoral needs of the Orang Asli Catholics at this village. At the beginning of Mass, he said that we are gathered to pray for the Orang Asli that their faith will be strengthened by our presence.

In his homily, the diocesan priest said we must be childlike, with the good qualities of innocence and honesty associated with children. They are dependent on and trust their parents. We too must depend on and trust in God. He added that many people are always thinking about power and position but these can take us away from God. We must always hope in God for His help, and not focus on things that build up our own power.

After Mass, everyone adjourned for lunch and fellowship outside the chapel.

Ice-breaking games were held, with many walking away with small prizes. Eleven Orang Asli children also won in the Colouring Competition event.

The KL Group sang two hymns to entertain their guests. In the Lucky Draws, 70 prizes were won. More than 450kgs of provisions, consisting of mainly foodstuff, were later distributed.

Forty mini Jalur Gemilang flags were distributed to the children.

Most of the homes are in a deplorable condition. The visitors were touched to witness the living conditions firsthand of the poor Orang Asli homes. It was heart-wrenching to see the limited amenities available in their homes.