Community Investment

PPB in collaboration with Yayasan Kajian dan Pembangunan Masyarakat (YKPM), also known as the Foundation for Community Studies and Development, has taken steps to empower the orang asli community. In this regard, PPB and YKPM identified four orang asli villagers from Kampung Keruing, Pekan District in Pahang to start a fruit orchard on 4.5 acres of land adjacent to peatlands. PPB contributed to the cost of land clearing, piping connection, irrigation, generator, water tank, as well as materials to construct a guardhouse and processing centre. The land has been cleared, and the irrigation and piping systems have been installed. The villagers have started planting durian, guava, and banana. To provide some income before harvesting the fruits, the villagers are also growing vegetables. This 'eco-farming' activity, guided by YKPM and supported by PPB, aims to uplift the livelihood of the four villagers and their families. Furthermore, the fruit trees will help moderate temperatures and retain moisture in the peat areas.

To further improve the living conditions of the orang asli, who are predominantly odd-job workers, PPB collaborated with the Assumption Orang Asli Ministry and contributed a total of 16 sets of sanitation facilities to several villages in Pahang as follows :

•  Kampung Bugis, Pekan District
•  Kampung Sekumbang, Pekan District
•  Kampung Karoi Padang Ulu Merchun, Pekan District
•  Kampung Serun, Pekan District
•  Kampung Simpai, Muadzam Shah District
•  Kampung Belabas, Rompin District
•  Kampung Petoh, Rompin District

PPB provided the necessary materials, while the orang asli communities provided the labor to construct the sanitation facilities in their respective villages. Each set of sanitation facilities includes a toilet, a bathroom, and a washbasin area with a mirror.