A LEADER of the Temiar Orang Asli of Gua Musang in Kelantan was served with a court warrant today ordering him to appear in court next month over blockades erected by the Orang Asli.

Mustafa Along, chairman of the Orang Asli Network, told The Malaysian Insight he had been ordered to appear before the Kota Baru high court on October 8 for the hearing on the Durian King plantation company’s application for the removal of the blockade erected at Kg Kaleg.

Last month, the Forestry Department and the Kelantan Land and Mines Office had forcibly dismantled three blockades erected by the Temiars at Kg Kaleg, Pos Tohoi at Kg Cawas, Pos Bihai, and Kg Kuala Wok at Pos Pasik to deny access to land claimed by both the Temiars and the plantation company.

Mustafa said the Temiars had however quickly replaced the dismantled barriers within days to signal to the Kelantan government, which refuses to recognise their claim to their customary lands, that they were standing their ground.

He said there have been several attempts to tear down the new blockades.

Mustafa said that a group of tribespeople had sat atop their blockade at Kg Kaleg last Tuesday in another confrontation with workers from the durian plantation company, who were attempting to dismantle the blockade.

“Until today, there have been no talks or government representatives coming to see us,” Mustafa said. – September 24, 2018.