THIRTY Orang Asli from three settlements in Gua Musang lodged a police report claiming that land encroachment activities have been rampant near their settlements over the past three months.

They represent about 1,000 Orang Asli of the Temiar tribe from Pos Ber who live in Kampung Cedal, Kampung Ber, and Kampung Kerbok as well as Kampung Mendrod and Kampung Haed of Pos Brooke.

Kelantan Orang Asli Villages Network deputy chairman Nasir Dollah, 36, said the reports were related to the issue of logging and also farming, which is expected to begin soon, as informed recently by the developer.

“Initially we met the company representatives and urged them not to proceed with their plan, after we were told that the project covers an area of more than 800ham which will affect the Orang Asli customary land and cause us to lose our rights over the land there.

“This will also involve the settlers’ farms and being close to the settlement areas, the project will affect the settlers’ activities and their way of life,”  he said when met by reporters in Bandar Baru today.

Kampung Mendrod, Pos Brooke representative Legek Alang, 69, said the durian planting project had already started in his village in July and this has resulted in polluted water supply. He hoped the authorities would do something to control the activities. 

“They started working on the farm on July 25 and the trees have now reached a height of about 0.9m. We, comprising more than 500 settlers, are very disappointed because the soil from the farming project has caused the river water to become cloudy, affecting our water source,” said Legek, one of those who lodged the police report.

A Kampung Haed, Pos Brooke settler, Ramli Ajom, 34, also hoped that the state government, the Orang Asli Development Department, the Gua Musang District Land Office and the Environment Department will monitor the situation as this involved their catchment water quality.

A Pos Ber settler, Uda Jenang, 59, hoped that the government would pay more attention to the illegal land encroachment, which has become more rampant near their settlement areas.

“We urge that the project be carried out elsewhere instead of encroaching on the Orang Asli customary land in the interior. We appeal to the government to understand our plight and help resolve the issue.

Meanwhile, Gua Musang district police chief Sik Choon Foo confirmed receiving the reports from the Orang Asli group.

“Three reports were lodged by 30 Orang Asli representatives from Lojing Highlands,” he said. – Bernama, September 16, 2023.