Minister in the Prime Minister's Department P Waythamoorthy is set to visit the controversial rundown Orang Asli settlements located on dumpsites in Pahang's Rompin district tomorrow and has resolved to come up with the best possible solution.

News of four shantytowns located near Bandar Muazzam Shah, where Orang Asli children scavenge for scraps on heaps of garbage broke on Friday when the Malay Mail carried a report featuring powerful photographs depicting the residents' plight.

While attention was focussed on the poor living conditions of villagers living there without running water and proper sanitation, it is learnt that some residents have chosen to stay in the area to scavenge as a means of income as it pays up to RM700 a month.

They have resisted efforts to relocate them to new villages with proper amenities under the Rancangan Pengumpulan Semula plan.

"I will meet local residents, including local authorities and representatives of government agencies, to find the best way to solve the problems of indigenous peoples there," Waythamoorthy said in a statement today.

"The government is always looking for the best solution to ensure the welfare and well-being of the people gets enough attention. The purpose of my visit tomorrow is also to fix misperceptions about the condition of indigenous peoples living there,” he said.

Waythamoorthy also invited media representatives and NGOs involved in Orang Asli welfare as well as local elected officials for Rompin, Tioman and Ibam and the management of the waste disposal firm that employs the Orang Asli as scavengers to a dialogue session.