A GROUP of Orang Asli village chiefs are demanding that the Kelantan government demolish blockades in Gua Musang that had been set up by their own youth.

In the latest twist in the land rights conflict between indigenous tribes and agri-businesses in Kelantan, the village chiefs claimed their youths were being used by civil societies who had their own agendas.

Awin Pedik, a spokesman for the group of 10 village chiefs or tok batin, said the blockades had affected the daily routines of the Temiar tribe in the Kuala Betis area.

“We agree with some of the claims by our youths but we reject their methods such as putting up blockades,” Awin told The Malaysian Insight when contacted.

“We should take our grouses to court or to negotiate with the state government. Not put up blockades and stop people from travelling. That is gangsterism.”

The village chief’s statement comes less than a week after the youths and activists from the Kelantan Indigenous Peoples Network (JKOAK), and their allied civil society groups submitted a memorandum and met with Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad in Putrajaya.

Awin said the group of village chiefs submitted their own memorandum to the Kelantan government today, claiming that the six-month-old blockades had also affected the incomes of their fellow villagers.

This is because the blockades in Cawas, Kaleeg and Kuala Wok, had disrupted the operations of rubber, pineapple and durian plantations which employ Orang Asli from the surrounding villages.

“I know the youths involved. I consider them my grandchildren. But they are not aware that they are being incited and used by outside groups,” said Awin.

“We want the authorities to take action against the groups who are turning our youth into extremists.”

It is estimated that there are 18 Orang Asli villages in the Balah forest reserve which are organised under 10 ‘Pos’. Awin is the Tok Batin for Pos Bihar, a village whose access road is also blockaded.

In the memorandum seen by The Malaysian Insight, the village chiefs had named lawyer Siti Kassim and Sharifah Sabrina Syed Agil as those responsible for “inciting” the JKOAK youths.

Siti Kassim is the Bar Council Orang Asli committee chief who has represented the Temiar activists, while Sharifah Sabrina heads the Association for the Protection of Malaysia’s Natural Heritage (Peka).

Peka had helped organise the August 10 activists’ trip to Putrajaya to meet Dr Mahathir.

Awin and the nine other chiefs had met with Kelantan Menteri Besar Ahmad Yakub today where they submitted their list of demands.

Plantations are legal

Kuala Betis has long been the site for conflicts between Temiar activists and loggers and planters for access to the rich forests of Balah.

JKOAK activists claimed that loggers and plantation companies have destroyed their communal land which is their source of food, clean water and medicine, and is critical to their identity and religion.

The planters and loggers on the other hand, claimed they had approvals from the PAS Kelantan government for their operations.

In their memorandum today, the village chiefs supported the presence of their plantations as it provided a source of income for the villages.

“The plantations do not encroach upon Orang Asli land. They are not destroying Orang Asli farms or taking what is ours,” said Awin.

“They got that land from the Kelantan government. The state government approved their permits. So why should we interfere in their business?”

Contrary to claims that the Kelantan government had quietly stolen Orang Asli native land, Awin stressed that the state has recognised “tanah saka” or land inherited passed down in Orang Asli families.

“What some Orang Asli demand is roaming land and that falls under the state government.”  

Awin said the village chiefs had an amicable meeting with menteri besar today who promised to look into their demands.

“(Ahmad) received us warmly. We had tea in his office and he promised to help and treat the Orang Asli like other Kelantanese communities.” – August 16, 2018.