Status modal insan dalam menjamin kelestarian hidup Suku Che Wong dan Jahut: Suatu analisis perbandingan (Status of human capital in ensuring sustainable livelihood among the Che Wong and Jahut: A comparative analysis)

Abstract

Kajian ini membandingkan status modal insan dalam kalangan Orang Asli suku Che Wong dengan suku Jahut di Pahang yang sedang mengalami keterancaman akibat pertambahan penduduk yang perlahan. Maklumat kajian diperolehi melalui kaji selidik berstruktur, temu bual separa berstruktur, dan teknik pemerhatian di lapangan. Analisis ke atas status modal insan dalam tulisan ini dibahagi kepada empat jenis aset, iaitu demografi, pendidikan meliputi kemahiran, status kesihatan dan pekerjaan. Dari aspek aset demografi, suku Che Wong didapati menghadapi tekanan dalam bentuk risiko kematian yang lebih tinggi, peluang berkahwin yang terhad dan lewat, masalah perkahwinan bawah umur, serta tradisi amalan merancang keluarga yang meluas. Kesemua keadaan ini dilihat tidak banyak membantu ke arah peningkatan jumlah penduduk Che Wong berbanding Jahut. Dari segi aset pendidikan dan kemahiran, suku Che Wong didapati kurang kelayakan akademik dan kebolehan literasi, serta pendedahan kepada latihan kemahiran, lantas mereka sering terhalang daripada menikmati peluang-peluang bekerjaya yang lebih baik berbanding suku Jahut. Dari segi status aset kesihatan, bentuk ancaman kesihatan yang dilalui suku Che Wong lebih condong kepada masalah perkembangan fizikal dan ketidakcukupan makan. Sementara bagi suku Jahut pula, pemasalahan kesihatan yang dihadapi lebih banyak dipengaruhi oleh perubahan gaya hidup, lantas mendedahkan mereka kepada pelbagai penyakit kronik seperti mana biasa dialami masyarakat luar. Berkaitan status aset pekerjaan, masalah pengangguran dan ketiadaan jaminan kerja adalah lebih tinggi dalam kalangan suku Che Wong berbanding Jahut. Akhirnya, analisis komposit pula membuktikan kekurangan dalam penguasaan suku Che Wong terutama ke atas dua jenis aset, iaitu aset pendidikan dan aset kemahiran pekerjaan telah meletakkan mereka dalam kedudukan lebih mudah terancam berbanding suku Jahut.

Katakunci: kelestarian, kemudahterancaman, kesihatan, modal insan, Orang Asli, pemilikan aset, pengangguran

A comparative study on the status of human capital was conducted in an effort to address the issue of vulnerability and slow population growth among Che Wong and Jahut aboriginal communities. Information was collected through structured questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and field observation techniques. The human capital status analysed here was divided into four types of assets, namely, demographic, education and skills, health status and employment. In terms of demographic assets, Che Wong faced a higher risk of death, limited opportunity in marriage at later age, higher risks of underaged marriage, and the widespread practice of traditional family planning. This situation was not helpful in increasing the size of Che Wong population over the Jahut. Concerning education and skills assets, Che Wong were academically less qualifed, lacked literacy , and had not acquired much skills training. Consequently, they were often prevented from enjoying better career development opportunities as compared to the Jahut. In terms of health status assets, Che Wong faced more health threats related to physical disability and inadequate food intake. By contrast, the Jahut faced more health problems associated with more modern lifestyle and in common with those chronic diseases experienced in the wider Malaysian society. In relation to employment assets status, the Che Wong experienced higher incidence of unemployment and lack of job security than the Jahut. Finally, the composite analysis proved that lack of competence among the Che Wong in education and job skills had put them in a more vulnerable position in comparison to the Jahut.

Keywords: aborigines, assets ownership, health, human capital, sustainability, unemployment, vulnerability