The Malaysian Insight

PUTRAJAYA is looking to amend laws on land matters for Orang Asli people that are currently under the state, said P. Waytha Moorthy.

The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad was “quite concerned” about the issue and had consulted the attorney-general on the amendments.

“It is really unfortunate that land matters come under the purview of the state government.

“However, the government is looking at the laws. We have consulted the attorney-general to see what else can be done to protect the rights of the Orang Asli,” Waytha told reporters after officiating a forum in Petaling Jaya tonight.

Land, water, and Islam are issues under the state purview in the federal constitution.  

The Orang Asli in Kelantan had put up blockades against logging encroaching into their lands, which were demolished by the Kelantan state government yesterday.

Waytha said Rural and Regional Development Deputy Minister R. Sivarasa will be leading an entourage to negotiate with the Kelantan government.

“I think Sivarasa is also making attempts to speak to the state government. We will do it together,” he said.

Some 200 personnel from the Kelantan Forestry Department and the Gua Musang Land and Mines Office descended on the Cawas, Kaleg, and Kegeg blockades yesterday.

The combined operation against three blockades in the Ulu Kelantan jungles came after the federal and Kelantan governments failed to resolve competing land claims between Gua Musang’s Temiar Orang Asli and agri-businesses. – August 28, 2018.