This land is my land


Nazir Sufari

THE Orang Asli in Kuala Langat, Selangor, are up in arms over the Selangor government’s plans to degazette 930ha of land for mixed-development projects in the Kuala Langat North Forest Reserve, saying they have documented proof that they own part of it.

Headman or tok batin of Kg Pulau Kempas, Kg Bukit Cheeding and Kg Bukit Kechil Rahman Pahat Rahman Pahat said the Temuan tribe has documents proving that the land is theirs.

This, however, has been brushed off by the local district office, which told them simply that the land overlaps with state-owned land.

On February 5, the Selangor Forestry Department had placed a notice in the media inviting stakeholders in the Kuala Langat district to voice their objections to the proposal within 30 days.

The forest reserve in question borders the Elite Highway and Cyberjaya.

But for the Orang Asli community here, losing the land will be nothing short of losing not just their way of life, but their identity as Orang Asli, for themselves and for generations to come. – February 20, 2020.


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