A/HRC/42/47/Add.8 Orang Asli villages have been resettled and regrouped after being displaced by flooding and due to mega-projects, including logging, palm oil and rubber plantation, and dam construction, which implies the loss of their traditional lands, the majority of which are not officially protected. It was explained to the Special Rapporteur that, for Orang Asli, losing their lands means destruction of their way of life, including the possibility to transmit rituals, beliefs, knowledge, and practices. During the short yet valuable time with the indigenous peoples, the Special Rapporteur could learn and see that the rivers next to each community are used for several purposes: as the water source for washing and as a place in lieu of toilets. Comments from the Government of Malaysia:  The population of Orang Asli is 178,197 based on the 2010 Population and Housing Census of Malaysia.  Due to distant location and the landforms, high infrastructure investment by State Government will be required to build and supply reticulated water to these villages. Currently, state water supply company, Air Kelantan Sdn. Bhd (AKSB) is responsible in water management services in the State. With the absence of such facility due to high cost, Government has developed alternative water systems to ensure all residents continue to receive the water supply. The systems were built by the Ministry of Rural Development (KPLB) and Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) for 121 villages, while one village uses reticulation system from AKSB.  The villages visited by the Special Rapporteur (Kg. Langsat, Kuala Betis, Kg. Merlong, Kg. Kelaik, Kg. Podek and Kg. Angklek) are installed with alternative water supply system, built by KPLB and MOH. However, maintenance of the systems has been deferred as the Department is refining the specifications and the scope of the new maintenance contract to ensure better service quality in the future.  To ensure sustainable water supply to the Orang Asli community, the Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA) is working with Mineral and Geoscience Department of Malaysia (JMG) to undertake various programme. In 2019, JMG will commence water well rehabilitation work in Kg. Langsat. This effort may be expanded to other villages in the future subject to funding availability.  In order to address the issue of technology gap between the water facilities and the users at the settlement, JAKOA and MOH will be upgrading the Water Supply and Environmental Sanitation (BAKAS) system with simpler and easier to handle system which is currently being used by MOH. 10. Paragraph 29 10. As the water systems are not functional, villagers often rely on gravity fed water supply from water streams in the mountains and water from the river and the residents were left to find water sources on their own. In the village of Peralong Perlong, 40 inhabitants who live in traditional houses longhouses rely on one water point that the population themselves have constructed using pipes that have been left by the logging companies nearby. These alternative water systems, constructed by the indigenous peoples and not within the purview of Government regulation, are not guaranteed with adequate level of water quality. In Kelaik village, there are about 200 people, including children, composed of 50 families, JAKOA water treatment plant was provided in 2010 but since its installation, it has not been working. The community relied on a small stream for drinking water and the river flowing next to the village for washing and cooking. One indigenous people explained that “when it rains, we compare the water from the small stream and the river. Whichever is cleaner, we drink it”. 5