A senior citizen died after suffering from purging and vomiting on Monday at an Orang Asli village in the interiors of Gua Musang, the Centre for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC) said.

Eight others are now receiving treatment for the same ailments at the Kuala Krai and Gua Musang Hospitals, its representative Nasir Dollah said in a statement.

Doctors confirm that they suffered from poisoning, he said.

They are from the Orang Asli villages of Kampung Angkek, Kampung Podek, Kampung Kelapa, Kampung Sentep in the district of Kuala Betis, Gua Musang, he said.

Not all were taken to hospital despite experiencing the same symptoms as they seem to have stabilised, he said.

Nasir said most villagers rely on Sungai Leget and Sungai Betis for supply of drinking water as appeals for potable water supply to the Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) remain unheeded.

This could be the source of the poisoning, he said.

“Logging and plantations, which use pesticides, are believed to have poisoned the river which is the main source of water for the villagers at Kuala Betis,” he said.

Repeated complaints to gov't

The villagers have repeatedly complained to state authorities over the logging and plantation projects, he said.

A police report has also been lodged on the matter, he added.

The Orang Asli community in Gua Musang came into the spotlight in September after seven primary schoolchildren disappeared from their residential school.

Two were found emaciated but alive weeks after, four were buried earlier this week after they were found dead in the jungle while another remains missing.

Police said the children attempted to run away, fearing punishment after they were caught swimming in the river without permission.

SK Tohoi is a remote school hours away through on 4WD via logging trails from Gua Musang.

In response, the Education Ministry instructed the children to be moved to a hostel closer to the school .

In 2012, the ministry promised to take action on a teacher from another remote school in Gua Musang, SK Bihai, after the teacher allegedly slapped several non-Muslim Orang Asli students for not reciting an Islamic prayer before meals.