Orang Asli land threatened

Orang Asli residents of the Temiar tribe in Kampung Kelaik, Pos Blau, Gua Musang, are calling on the state government to gazette their native customary land due to concerns over rampant land clearing for agricultural activities. The residents are alarmed by the increasing number of agricultural projects, such as durian and oil palm estates, surrounding their settlement.

Uda Busu, a 42-year-old resident, reveals that the initial population of 200 has now dwindled to only 100 people as many have been forced to relocate to nearby iron ore mining areas due to food and forest product scarcity. The residents have also suffered losses from a recent incident where a company destroyed their rambutan, rubber, and durian farms at Kuala Cenroi (Pos Blau) without providing any compensation. Frustrated, they are unsure of whom to approach for compensation.

Busu asserts that if their land is gazetted as their own, they would be protected from such problems and not treated as outsiders. As Malaysians, they believe it is their right to be included in discussions with the authorities before granting permission to companies involved in land clearing activities.

In addition, Billy Ibrahim, a 39-year-old resident, expresses grave concern for the fate of those living in the settlement and emphasizes the urgency of resolving the issue surrounding the gazetting of customary land.

The residents appeal for the cooperation of the authorities in declaring that the Orang Asli of Kampung Kelaik possess customary rights to the land. They fear that if a resolution is not reached soon, they could face the prospect of being squeezed even tighter or forced to live in undesirable conditions, such as trees, under bridges, or by the roadside.

Nasir Dollah, the deputy chairman of the Kelantan Orang Asli Villages Network, supports the residents’ plea, highlighting the importance of gazetting Orang Asli land to prevent encroachment on their settlement area. He points out that without legal documentation, their perceived Orang Asli land could be taken away at any time. He further notes that while land in other states has been gazetted, their settlement in Gua Musang has not yet received such protection.