THE Orang Asli community in Kelantan today demanded that Putrajaya find a solution to intrusion of wildlife on their villages following deforestation and the destruction of animal habitats.

Representatives of the community, led by human rights lawyer Siti Kasim, today submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob. 

One of the group, Dendi Johari, 30, said there had been two tiger attacks in his village in a space of six months. One of the victims was mauled to death by a tiger in Kampung Sau, Pos Bihai. 

Since 2017, at least four wildlife attacks have occurred in several Orang Asli villages in Kelantan. 

Dendi said three tigers have so far been spotted around several villages in Gua Musang. A report was made to the Wildlife Department, which he said had yet to respond to the complaint.

He said wild elephants were also going into the villages.

“This has seriously disrupted our daily lives and the villagers are living in fear of the wild animals,” he said.

Dendi said the villagers did not blame the animals but the government for allowing the forest to be destroyed by logging, mining, farming and building of dams.

“The animals can’t do much. They have lost their homes so they must go somewhere and unfortunately, they stray into our villages,” he said.

Dendi said wildlife and national parks department officials were also not doing their job responsibly.

“In the latest sighting of three tigers, instead of doing it in the proper manner, Perhilitan instead set off firecrackers to frighten away the tigers,” he said. 

The group said the government must find a solution to address the problem of wild animals in their their villages. 

“We demand that Putrajaya work together with the state government to find a solution to put a stop to logging, farming and mining,” Dendi said.

“We recommend that the state government be given oil royalty payments so that it doesn’t have to depend on such activities for income.” 

The group also demanded that the federal government cancel the hydroelectric dam project in Nenggiri, which is among the oldest Orang Asli settlements and which is also rich in flora and fauna.

They said Nenggiri was a famous habitat of wildlife and continuing the dam would mean more wildlife intrusion on the Orang Asli villages there.

“We hope the government will investigate this issue and find a solution as a life has already been sacrificed.” – January 11, 2022.