HULU TERENGGANU: “Don’t worry about us, we’re OK,” said Semaq Beri spokesman, Ibrahim Awang, 75, in reference to people feeling baffled about his tribe’s ‘disappearance’ from Sungai Berua.Ibrahim, who is looked upon as a leader by the nomadic tribe’s 26 families (over 150 people), said most of them are healthy and frequently receive visits from medical officers, and if perhaps they were down with a cough or fever, they would leave the jungle (for treatment).
“We will continue to live in the jungle. Perhaps another two months we will be in this jungle. We’re not just trying to get away from the illness (that has stricken the Bateq tribe from Kelantan), but we’re also gathering jungle products, mainly rotan,” he said of their relocation to forest around Hulu Terengganu.
He said his tribe is still locatable because every time they move, some individuals will be informed of where, including relatives left behind.
“I’ve been told that many have fallen sick and in hospital since the tribe from Kuala Koh arrived. Worried about everybody, I decided to take precautionary steps,” said Ibrahim, adding that normally only the men would head into the jungle, but because of the ‘mysterious’ illness that was recently linked to a measles virus, all moved. - Bernama
