This was one of those conversations that made me feel that my efforts in creating awareness is never enough. The injustice that happens daily in front of our eyes is still going unnoticed. Here is another short story from my previous journey into the Temiar Orang Asli (tribe) villages in Kelantan, Malaysia in May.
“What is your name?”
*silence*
“How old are you?”
*silence* *looking down*
“What is your favourite subject in school?”
*silence* *sadness*
I look to turn towards her mother.
“It’s Miksudiar. She is 12 years old now.”
“Why is she not responding to me, is she shy?”
“No she was never shy, she was a happy child. But now she doesn’t speak much. She is still going through the trauma. She doesn’t even play or make new friends anymore.”
“This started after the incident?”
“Yes, after she went missing in the forest, since we found her after 40 days, she has been like this, very quiet, always alone, always in silence. But I’m happy she is gaining her weight and has a better health. When we first found her she was so skinny. She just doesn’t talk anymore.”
Unlike what the Malaysian media reported, here is the actual story, the truth told by the family. Eight months ago, seven Temiar (Indigenous) children ran away from school and went missing in the nearby forest close to their village. According to the parents, they ran away due to the constant abuse, racial discrimination and beating by the local Malay teachers.
This is a reoccurring issue happening in the school. They (Temiar children) get bullied, yelled at and slapped by the teachers. Discriminated due to their tribal origins. So afraid of being punished again, my daughter and her friends ran away.
After 40 days alone in the deep forest, lost, starving and frighten, only two were found. Five others died of starvation and their bodies were found only miles away from the school. Parents are still shocked why the authorities and forest police couldn’t locate them on time, as promised by the search and rescue teams. The search and rescue was not done well enough, they ignored our request and treated us badly too. Further more the families were not allowed to look for their own children, with excuses of safety. “We feel they wanted to cover up their doings”, said on the the parents.
“We know the jungles better, the forest is our home, our kids will come back to us, not to the police or teachers, they we running away from them so why would they want to be found by them? We pleaded to the school to let us help, but our voices went unheard.”
Due to the negligence of the school authorities, corrupted government officials and teachers, five (5) children are dead, one of the boy drowned and another was just left a skeleton. This was horrifying to us.
Miksudiar Aluj was just lucky or blessed. She was found, half alive, lost almost 10 kgs and holding on to her last moments of life.
Social activists, NGO’s and the Temiar tribal leaders have made official complaints to authorities and even the Malaysian parliament of why this incident happened and what is the actions taken on the school. Many Malaysians are also shocked of this incident happening at this times of modern civilisation.
As of today, eight months have passed. Nothing. Silence. The same silence I felt in Miksudiar Aluj. Their voices still unheard. We plead for the solidarity of this silence. I plead to all of you to help Miksudiar get her voice back. No child should ever feel fear and danger at this very young age, especially in a school, a place of education, cultures and humanity.
“Can I take a picture of you, Miksudiar?”
Mom tells her to look up. This is the only image I took of her before she turned away in silence again, her eyes hiding away from my lens.
This is our solidarity for Miksudiar. As Malaysians. To give her a voice. Give the Temiar tribe a voice. Share this message out!
(Pos Gob, Gua Musang | Kelantan, Malaysia)
