ILLEGAL logging in Pahang’s Kuala Krau forest reserve is still ongoing while contractors and the state government turn a deaf ear to demonstrations by the Orang Asli in the area, said Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (JOAS) director Yusri Ahon.

The felling of trees began in October in parts of the forest under the Jerantut and Temerloh districts, and was unknown to the Orang Asli villagers when it first started.

Yusri said an Orang Asli villager first told him of land clearing on October 18 and the presence of a few “towkays” in the area.

They sent him photos of a cleared path where trees had been cut to make a dirt road.

“The area they are clearing seems new. They’ve simply cut through the Kuala Krau forest,” the villager said.

Now, nine kampung and home to 8,000 people, most of whom are Orang Asli from the Jahut tribe, are worried that their livelihood and resources will be affected if the state does not put a stop to it.

The villagers contend that no one from the state or logging company consulted them before proceeding with cutting down trees.

“There was no transparency or engagement,” said Yusri.

The villagers mounted a peaceful protest last month over the logging, which is expected to cover around 60ha.

In a joint statement at the protest, they said the logging will disrupt water supply for Kg Sg Kiol, Kg Sg Mai, Kg Seboi, Kg Pasu, Kg Pian and Kg Terbol.

It also violates their rights as custodians of the land to protect and preserve catchment areas.

The logging itself will destroy their customary land and resources, such as traditional medicines, food sources and livelihoods earned from these resources.

“We strongly object to this project and we hope authorities will respect our decision in order to protect the forest and its ecosystem, including our livelihoods,” the villagers said in the statement.

Peaceful resolution

Yusri and the nine village leaders have lodged a complaint against the loggers and the land and district administrator for encroaching on customary land in Kg Sg Mai, at the Temerloh High Court. The hearing will take place on January 12.

In their complaint, the villagers stated that the customary land of Kg Sg Mai is gazetted under Section 6 of the Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954.

“The defendants maintain and preserve the Sg Mai and Sg Bertai water catchment areas for Kg Sg Mai Orang Asli native customary land from any activities, which include plantation and logging activities.

“The villagers of Kg Sg Mai Orang Asli native customary land are given the right to conduct hunting and forest produce gathering activities at the Krau forest reserve,” the complaint said.

Prior to that, Yusri said the leaders from all nine villages also met with the managers of the contractors involved last month to hand them a letter protesting against the illegal logging.

Another memorandum was sent to one of the companies in Tangkak, while a separate letter of concern, dated November 24, was sent to Pahang Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail’s office.

Every action so far has been met with silence, said Yusri.

The letter to the Pahang MB was also copied to the Prime Minister’s Department, the Environment and Water Ministry, Department of Orang Asli Development and the National Human Rights Commission (Suhakam)

“We haven’t reported this to the Department of Environment or the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia because we would like to have a peaceful discussion with the MB first,” Yusri said.

However, from the looks of it, the loggers will be allowed to continue and may take an even more aggressive approach towards villagers who try to get in the way, he said.

In 2010, the Kuala Krau forest was gazetted as a reserve for its 1,000-year-old trees and wildlife diversity. This means that logging is prohibited in the area. – December 15, 2020.