Why now, asks Hadi over Orang Asli rights suit

Updated 7 years ago · Published on 19 Jan 2019 2:18PM · 8 Comments

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang says Putrajaya’s move to take up a civil suit against the Kelantan government on behalf of the Temiar Orang Asli gives the impression that it was done to boost the Pakatan Harapan campaign’s chances of reeling in Orang Asli votes. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, January 19, 2019.

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.

Yesterday, Putrajaya filed the suit against the Kelantan government for legal recognition of the native land rights of the Orang Asli community.

In the suit filed, Attorney-General Tommy Thomas said the federal government was taking action against the PAS government of Kelantan to gain native land rights for the Temiar Orang Asli in Pos Simpor.

“Having researched the law, this chambers has filed a civil suit in the high court at Kota Baru for the federal government of Malaysia,” he said in a statement today.

“The defendants are the state government of Kelantan, the Kelantan state director of land and mines, the Kelantan state director of the Forestry Department, and five private entities, seeking, inter alia, the legal recognition of the Temiar Orang Asli’s native land rights in Pos Simpor, and injunctions to restrain private parties from encroaching upon and destroying the native land for commercial profits.”

Backing his boss, Takiyuddin Hassan demanded to know if the attorney-general was playing politics as the country’s top prosecutor.

The Islamist party’s secretary general said a group of lawyers had already volunteered their services and would take up cudgels on behalf of the Kelantan government in court.

“I was made to understand by the Kelantan government that a group of lawyers have come together to defend the state.

“They will offer their services for free as the defence counsel in the suit by the federal government,” the Kota Baru MP was quoted as saying.

Reacting to the suit, Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar Mohd Amar Abdullah said the state government does not recognise Orang Asli ancestral land rights as it is not provided for in the state constitution.

He said Orang Asli do not own any land in the state, and that what the Orang Asli owned was what the state has given them.

“As of now, the Orang Asli do not own land in Kelantan, except for what has been given to them by the state government,” he was quoted as saying. – January 19, 2019.

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Comments

  • just as PAS thinks that was okay for Najib to loot 1MDB, they have no qualms about stealing land that rightfully and originally belongs to the Orang Asli.

    Posted 7 years ago by Arul Inthirarajah · Reply

  • Hadi Shut ur ugly mouth It is the same scenario how u keep ur ugly mouth shut and shake hands with UMNO n BN to loot Malaysia's Coffers . If u were a True Muslim u shld rally against CORRUPTION which your UMNO n BN brothers did including U that is why No Rally to eradicate Corruption

    Posted 7 years ago by Tharan Singh · Reply

  • UMNO PAS BN = CORRUPTION

    Posted 7 years ago by Tharan Singh · Reply

    • Better we discuss more meaningful topic...old political parties have to close shop for now!!!

      Posted 7 years ago by MA63 SSS · Reply

  • This is what pas has stupid scumbag President the number 0 top to the very last member in pas. They need to give the president with his leaders the Royal Toilet Head Flush every day.

    Posted 7 years ago by Danial Abdullah · Reply

  • Kalau bukan skrg, bila lagi?
    Kalau bukan PH, siapa lagi?

    Posted 7 years ago by Luke Skywalker · Reply

    • Right slogan!!!

      Posted 7 years ago by MA63 SSS · Reply

  • A court case takes months to prepare while the by-election is only recently announced. You cant delay a case in another part of the country simply because it involves an ethnic minority in another state. No logic here. Malays, Indians and Chinese Malaysians are also involved in the by-election. Should all cases affecting those communities also be seen as campaigning?

    Posted 7 years ago by Malaysia New hope · Reply