• To guarantee the security of the Orang Asli from subversive and anti-national elements (JHEOA 1992: Lampiran A). While the first stated objective was that of poverty-eradication, it has however become evident that the security motive was the overriding reason for the early regroupment schemes. This is attested by the fact that all of the early schemes were along the spine of the peninsula, in areas where communist insurgents were said to be dwelling and getting support from the Orang Asli. Furthermore, in many of the early RPS schemes, the socalled poverty-eradication projects were never delivered in full, or delivered late. As we shall see later, many of the participants in these schemes still live below the poverty line. In fact, that the regroupment schemes are not achieving their social objectives can be gleaned from the nutritional status of the Orang Asli children living there. Khor (1994: 123) contends that: Some 15 years after relocation, the nutritional status of Orang Asli children in regroupment schemes can be described as poor with a moderate to high prevalence of underweight, acute, and chronic malnutrition. Their dietary intakes are deficient in calories and several major nutrients. … There exists an over-simplified assumption that introduction to cash-cropping will lead to increased income, which will provide more money for food, and in turn result in improvement in nutritional status…. In reality, relocation entails cultural uprooting and lifestyle changes which may not be overcome by the provision of physical facilities and economic incentives only. Regroupment also brings with it a whole gamut of other social problems especially when a community is expected to impinge on another’s traditional territory, or if food and other subsistence needs are hard to ORANG ASLI – RIGHTS, PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS 27