GUA MUSANG – Thirty Orang Asli from three settlements here lodged a police report claiming that land encroachment has been rampant near their settlements over the past three months.
They represent about 1,000 Orang Asli of the Temiar tribe from Pos Ber who live in Kg Cedal, Kg Ber and Kg Kerbok, as well as Kg Mendrod and Kg Haed of Pos Brooke.
Nasir Dollah, who is deputy chairman of the Kelantan Orang Asli Villages Network, said the reports were related to logging and also farming which is expected to begin soon, as informed recently by the developer company’s representatives.
“Initially we met the company representatives and urged them not to proceed with their plan, after we were told that the project covers an area of over 800ha, which will affect the Orang Asli customary land and cause us to lose our rights over the land there.
“This will also involve the settlers’ farms and being close to the settlement areas, the project will affect the settlers’ activities and their way of life,” he said when met by reporters in Bandar Baru here today.
Meanwhie, Kg Mendrod representative Legek Alang said a durian-planting project had already started in his village since last July and this has caused the settlers’ water supply to be polluted. As such, he hoped the authorities would do something to control the activities.
“They started working on the farm on July 25 and the trees have now reached a height of about three feet. We, comprising over 500 settlers, are very disappointed because the soil from the farming project has caused the river water to become cloudy, affecting our water source,” said Legek, who was one of those who lodged the police report.
A Kg Haed settler, Ramli Ajom, also hoped that the state government, the Orang Asli Development Department. the Gua Musang District Land Office and the Environment Department will monitor the situation as it involved the quality of their catchment water.
A Pos Ber settler, Uda Jenang, hoped that the government would pay more attention to the illegal land encroachment which he claimed was becoming more rampant near their settlement areas.
“We urge that the project be carried out elsewhere instead of encroaching on the Orang Asli customary land in the interior. We appeal to the government to understand our plight and help resolve the issue.
Meanwhile, Gua Musang district police chief Sik Choon Foo confirmed receiving the reports from the Orang Asli group.
“Three reports were lodged by 30 Orang Asli representatives from Tanah Tinggi Lojing,” he said. – September 16, 2023