IT is not just the Orang Asli of Pos Simpor, near Gua Musang, Kelantan, who are at the mercy of state-approved land clearing, but wild elephants, too.

Deforestation has forced the animals out into the open in search of food, and their encroachment on Orang Asli’s fruit and vegetable plots has caused villagers to suffer food shortages.

Already battling loggers and planters approved by the Kelantan government, villagers said their plots have been “invaded” by elephants more than thrice.

Pos Simpor Orang Asli activist Nur Mohd Syafiq Dendi Abdullah told The Malaysian Insight that the latest incident took place just last week, and saw sweet potato and banana plants, and other vegetables destroyed.

“The crops are a crucial source of food for the 80 families in the area. The herd destroyed the plots where we had planted sweet potato and banana.

“It was our only source of food. Now it’s gone.”

Pos Simpor residents, who are from the Temiar tribe, have tried to keep elephants away by beating drums and lighting fires at night.

Families find it hard to sleep soundly as they are worried about the animals returning, said Syafiq.

“They can’t sleep because they fear elephants entering the village again.”

He said the food shortages have left villagers with no choice but to travel more than five hours to the nearest town in Gua Musang to buy produce.

“It’s the rainy season now, and the roads are very difficult to travel on. We hope that the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) will look into our plight.”

Meanwhile, the Orang Asli of Kg Aring 5, a community of some 300 people, have had their piped water infrastructure destroyed by elephants.

Village head Rina Anjang said three tanks and pipes channelling water from an upstream catchment area were totalled by a herd last weekend.

Kampung Aring 5 folk are now forced to rely on river water, despite being uncertain about its safety for human consumption.

Syafiq said land clearing in the jungle areas surrounding villages is the reason why the animals are encroaching on human habitat.

“Because the trees have been cut down, the elephants have no place to look for food. That’s why they enter our village.”

The Malaysian Insight has contacted Perhilitan and the Orang Asli Affairs Department, and is awaiting their response.

The Orang Asli in Gua Musang have been fighting loggers and planters over the past year, erecting blockades that are promptly dismantled by state authorities.

Kelantan has said the land clearing and plantations are licensed and legal as the land belongs to the state given that the concept of “tanah adat”, or native customary land, does not exist in the state constitution. According to the law, land matters fall under state jurisdiction.

The federal government has filed a suit against Kelantan and five private companies for encroaching on Orang Asli land. The state is seeking to have the matter decided by the Federal Court. – November 7, 2019.