PERAK has halted logging in forests claimed by Orang Asli in Hulu Chepam after the activity resumed under relaxed movement controls.

David Gurupatham, a lawyer representing the Temiar in the state’s northeast, said the order to cease logging was issued by the state Forestry Department on Wednesday.

David had planned to file an injunction at the high court to prevent the authorities from demolishing blockades set up by the Orang Asli to protect their ancestral land.

The blockades were erected again by the Temiar in Kg Sg Papan a week ago when loggers returned with bulldozers and tractors.

Following the protest against the return of the loggers, whom the state government said have the necessary permits, a meeting was called between the authorities, the Temiar and company involved.

“After the discussions, the Perak Forestry Department gave us a copy of the instruction to suspend all logging activities,” David told The Malaysian Insight.

Nevertheless, the lawyer said he will proceed with filing a civil suit to declare that the Temiar have a right to their ancestral land in Hulu Chepam. They are claiming an area of 42ha.

The suit will seek to bar third parties from entering the disputed area until a decision is made on the villagers’ claim to the land, he said.

He will also represent three members of the tribe detained last July for manning barricades to keep loggers out.

The trio were among six villagers arrested when the authorities came to the area to tear down the wood-and-bamboo barriers.

The state Forestry Department had said the logging company held permits to clear trees there and that the barricades were built on land belonging to Felda.

The three were released after a two-day remand and have not been charged.

Kg Sg Papan spokesman Anjang Aleuj said despite the logging suspension, Perak is adamant that the Temiar have no right to their ancestral land, as the concept does not exist in the state’s laws.

This was made known during the meeting last week with Gerik police, loggers, forestry officials, Land and Mines Department, and Orang Asli Development Department.

“They did not respond to our requests to see the company’s logging permits,” said Anjang.

During the prolonged confrontation between loggers and villagers last year, Menteri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu reiterated that Orang Asli tribes did not have rights to ancestral land in Perak.

This was disputed by the Bar Council and Malaysian Human Rights Commission, which highlighted a Federal Court ruling that Orang Asli claims to such land are justified.

Faizal then backed down from his stance and suspended logging on land claimed by tribes in the state.

Anjang said loggers did not return after the menteri besar’s instruction.

In March, the state administration changed hands from Pakatan Harapan to Perikatan Nasional after the former was ousted from Putrajaya.

Faizal, who switched sides from PH to PN, was named menteri besar again by a coalition of Umno and PAS assemblymen.

Soon after PN’s takeover at the federal level, Malaysia was placed under the movement-control order (MCO) to curb the spread of Covid-19.

The MCO put a stop to most economic activities, including logging and land clearing in the peninsula. Restrictions were largely lifted on June 10 under its recovery phase.

Anjang said loggers had taken advantage of the recovery MCO and change of government to return to forests. – June 26, 2020.