KUALA LUMPUR, March 20 -- Malaysia's first Orang Asli lawmaker today urged the government not to use the agency for aboriginal affairs as a dumping ground for underperforming civil servants.

Cameron Highlands MP Ramli Mohd Nor said the Orang Asli Development Department (JAKOA) needs to have its organisational structure reviewed and injected with increased funding to aid the community.

"JAKOA must be strengthened and improved from its organisational structure perspective, increased funding and increase the value of the workers who must be of great integrity, dedicated and transparent in order to achieve its main objectives for the progress and wellbeing of the Orang Asli.

"JAKOA should also not be made a port and cold storage for civil ...