THE General Operations Force has blocked access to Kg Kuala Koh in Gua Musang as the authorities prepare to enter the jungle to mark sites where the bodies of 12 Bateq Orang Asli were placed after their deaths from an illness.

The barricade was erected at 7am today some 8km from the village. Only the authorities are permitted to enter the area.

This was done after an undetermined disease claimed the lives of 14 Bateq tribe members. The authorities have said the illness is a lung or respiratory infection.

It is learnt that the Fire and Rescue Department, police, Wildlife and National Parks Department, and Kelantan Orang Asli Development Department will enter the jungle.

They will mark the sites where the bodies had been left for the authorities to retrieve and conduct a post-mortem to ascertain the cause of death.

The Malaysian Insight reported that it might not be possible to retrieve all the bodies.

A Bateq tribesman said wild animals may have gotten to the bodies first.

On Monday, Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the move to quarantine the village is to prevent the possibility of a disease outbreak.

As The Malaysian Insight tried to enter the village, they were barred by officers manning the barricade.

An officer, who declined to be named, said the authorities have not quarantined the area, but merely blocked access to it.

The Orang Asli residents have moved out of the village, and are now living in makeshift tents within the area, but closer to the jungle. – June 12, 2019.