“This is a new problem to inflict the Orang Asli. They may have had chronic problems before but now we need to find the tipping point which led to the deaths,” she said.“Retrieving samples can be quite complex as some were given customary funeral rites,” she said, adding test results would be out soon.
Tests done by the Department of Environment on water samples taken near a manganese mine about 3km from the Bateq settlement in Kuala Koh and water catchments in the area were free of contaminants and complied with national drinking water standards, she added. She said a former National Service camp was converted into a temporary shelter for the Bateq who had recovered from the disease after seeking treatment at hospitals.“Although they have been discharged, their movements will need to be controlled until we know what kind of disease we are dealing with,” she said.