Tears of tribal land


Afif Abd Halim

AS the nation counts down to Merdeka, the Orang Asli in Gua Musang do not feel like they are equal citizens despite being the oldest residents of the land that is now called Malaysia. 

This is because their claims to tribal lands that they have used for generations are still not recognised by the Kelantan government. 

Yesterday, they were dealt another blow to that fight for their rights when the blockades they erected to protect their land claims were destroyed by state government agencies. 

After being up for close to eight months, the barricades they built and maintained were dismantled as they watched on with silent tears and heavy hearts.

Now, there is nothing to prevent plantations companies and loggers from entering and further destroying the communal jungles they have depended on for generations for sustenance.  

As Temiar activist Mustafa Along puts it – everyone else feels like they have been liberated or “merdeka”, but not the Orang Asli. “We have been denied our rights as equal citizens.” – August 28, 2018.


Sign up or sign in here to comment.


Comments