KUALA LUMPUR, March 15 (Bernama) -- The Orang Asli Affairs Department's request for an RM800 million allocation for development projects for the indigenous community under the Tenth Malaysia Plan will be considered.

Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal said the Orang Asli's interests were always given attention but the matter should be seen as a whole.

"We have been giving allocations. Last year, it was RM400 million while under the National Key Result Areas (NKRA), we will give an additional sum," he told reporters at the parliament lobby after the opening of the third term of the 12th Parliament, here, today.

Yesterday, the department requested for an allocation of RM800 million to carry out various educational programmes for Orang Asli children and to provide their settlements nationwide with basic facilities so as to improve their lot.

Shafie said no country gave so much care for its indigenous groups, but Malaysia even had a special hospital for the Orang Asli, showing the country's seriousness in looking after this community.

Besides that, Shafie said the government also targeted to send as least five Orang Asli students for further studies abroad beginning this year in a bid to spur educational development among the Orang Asli.

On Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin's speech at the opening of the parliament session, for Sabah and Sarawak's development to be speeded up, Shafie said that would be stressed upon; that there would be no delay in the implementation of the planned projects.

He said besides stressing on improving systems, approaches and implementation, last year he also met up with all quarters involved, including developers and suppliers, to ensure the success of the projects.

Shafie was also happy to note that almost all the allocations given last year had been used to carry out the planned development projects.