The Malaysian Insight

THE Kelantan Forestry Department is monitoring the situation in Gua Musang, where several blockades had recently been set up by Orang Asli to protest against logging activities. 

Its director, Zahari Ibrahim, said the department would look into other ways to resolve the issue, such as engaging the Orang Asli to better understand their concerns. 

“We are monitoring the situation so that we can forward the matter to the state government and decide what action needs to be taken,” he told The Malaysian Insight today.

“Based on past experience, we are looking at different strategies to resolve this issue,” he said, adding there was no plan to demolish the blockades for now. 

Yesterday, Orang Asli from six villages had erected several blockades at Chawas, Tohoi and Kuala Wok.

The chairman of the customary land territory in Pos Simpor, Mohd Syafiq Dendi, the move was in protest against logging and commercial farming activities that had encroached into Orang Asli territory. 

He said it was also an effort by the Orang Asli to protest against the Kelantan government’s tolerance of deforestation. 

Over the past two years, Orang Asli communities have set up several blockades in the state, but the Kelantan Forestry Department had torn them down and arrested some protesters.

“Although we have the right to take action, an aggressive approach is not effective in solving this issue,” Zahari said.

“We will study the situation first to see whether there are any elements of incitement causing the  Orang Asli to act aggressively. 

“We have formed a committee that includes heads of Orang Asli communities as well as representatives from the Forestry Department, to start a dialogue,” Zahari said.

He, however, said issues involving customary land were not under the department’s jurisdiction and must be referred to the state and federal governments.

“They can set up blockades. It is their right, but they can’t stop civil servants from doing their jobs. 

“If they want to stop loggers, it’s up to them. But they cannot stop the authorities, such as the police or Forestry Department, from taking action.” 

Dendi yesterday said the protestors would not leave until the state government showed a genuine interest in negotiating with them.

“We don’t know what they (the government) will do. Either they take down the blockades or some of us get arrested. We will see,” Dendi said yesterday. 

Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah was unavailable for comment. 

The PAS-led Kelantan government had in the past come under fire for not protecting the Orang Asli and their rights pertaining to land matters. – February 17, 2018.