KELANTAN Network of Orang Asli Villages (JKOAK) denied that Putrajaya’s suit against the Pahang government is related to the Cameron Highlands by-election.

JKOAK chairman Mustafa Along said allegations otherwise were baseless as the legal action was discussed months earlier.  

“The discussions between JKOAK and the Attorney-General’s Chambers and the Malaysian Bar to take this action began last October,” he said in a statement today.  

“It is only coincidence that the suit was filed during the Cameron Highlands by-election. The legal action is not bait to draw support,” he said.

Mustafa said JKOAK will continue to take “necessary action” to prevent native land from being intruded.

These include setting up road blockades to prevent loggers, miners, and agricultural firms from operating in their area.

Yesterday, Putrajaya filed a suit against the PAS-ruled Kelantan government over encroachments into Orang Asli settlements, the first such suit by the federal government involving native land rights.

It also wants an injunction to stop private companies from encroaching into native lands to carry out commercial activities, Attorney-General Tommy Thomas said in a statement today.  

The suit filed in the high court at Kota Baru has named the state government, state director of lands and mines, state director of Forestry Department, and five private entities.

Earlier today Abdul Hadi Awang questioned Putrajaya’s move to take up a civil suit against the Kelantan government on behalf of the Temiar Orang Asli, as the Cameron Highlands campaigning entered its final stretch.

The PAS president said the decision gave the impression that it was done to boost the Pakatan Harapan campaign’s chances of reeling in Orang Asli votes.

“I would like to ask why the government chose to bring up this issue during the Cameron Highlands by-election. Why now when this is an old issue?

“Are they trying to campaign? Or did they really just think it about now during the by-election – never before this, when this is an old issue?” Hadi was quoted as saying during a press conference after launching a seminar on the Islamist party’s history in Gombak today. – January 19, 2019.