they are in effect being denied the right to plant food crops. Hence, they should perhaps be given some form of compensation. “In the case of the water shortage, you can’t tell the factories not to use any water. By the same principle, this flexibility should be extended to the Orang Asli.” The assistant director-general of the Fire and Rescue Department, Mohammad Hamdan Wahid, concurs. “The law must not be overly rigid in this matter. These are the people that you can educate, but you must provide them with some alternative if they are not allowed to use fires. If it is not for their survival, I don’t think these people will start a fire, unless it is an act of sabotage.” Traditionally, Orang Asli who practise subsistence farming will clear vegetation in April/May and leave the felled material to dry for three months before setting fire to it. Besides rice, a whole variety of other crops like tapioca, vegetables and sugar cane are also grown on their plots, which are often below 1ha. Three weeks ago, an Orang Asli in Perak asked this writer: “If we are not allowed to burn, can someone provide us with rice? Maybe one sack per family should be enough to see us through. If that can be done, perhaps we can forego tilling our fields for this season.” However, Saleh dismisses the possibility of that happening: “We will not give anything like that. Anyway, their children are already receiving food subsidies when they go to school.” When asked whether the special needs of the Orang Asli have been overlooked in the haste to ensure clear skies, he replies: “There is no question about it, the Orang Asli must follow the Government’s directive, which is intended to prevent the haze. Are you suggesting that they break the law?” He then adds that the Orang Asli are being helped in “other” ways. ORANG ASLI – RIGHTS, PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS 71