The land dispute between the Semelai Orang Asli tribe and the state authorities in Bera, Pahang has reached a stalemate, with the latter claiming that the disputed land is beyond land gazetted for the community.

This, despite the Orang Asli filing a police report over alleged encroachment and destruction of native-owned rubber trees on that land, since last month. 

The dispute escalated when logging contractors erected a sign stating that 265.45 hectares of the said land will be cleared.

The loggers were contracted the project by the Sri Buntar Committee of Village Security and Development Commitee (JKKK Sri Buntar).

According to village chief Hajemi Din, the logging threatens Orang Asli livelihoods and could lead to home eviction. 

He added that numerous attempts to establish a dialogue between the respective authorities with the Orang Asli have also failed.

Jakoa: It's gov't land

However, Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) official Noor Saipah Jad said the 264.45 hectares disputed is government property and is not part of land designated for the Orang Asli.

She said that the Orang Asli of Lubuk Perah were granted 800 hectares of customary land. Lubuk Perah is one of 12 villages which has exclusive land for the natives in the district of Bera.

Noor Saipah said that she has been to the site and found the land to be mostly barren except for small shrubs.

She added that there are a few trees found in the area, though the trees are wildly grown and are not more than two years of age.

She said the logging has been approved by the Forestry Department andthat Jakoa has no jurisdiction over the land as it was not gazetted for the Orang Asli. 

According to JKKK Sri Buntar chairman Abu Bakar Abdul Kadir, there are no intentions to build anything in the disputed area and that the area will be used to plant oil palm trees once it is cleared.

The recent dispute in Bera is one of many land disputes faced by the Orang Asli minorities, who have long complained of increasing encroachment over their native customary lands.

Last month, an Orang Asli community in Kluang, Johor faced  physical threats  when trying to defend their oil palm plantation from being cleared.

The community claimed they have cultivated the land since 1983, but the government land was sold without their consent last May.

JAKE CARTER is a trainee reporter at Malaysiakini .

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