Over 500 orang asli from 40 kampungs in Hulu Kelantan held a protest against the Ladang Rakyat project at Gua Musang Land Office today.

The group led by Malaysian Indigenous Peoples Network chairman Azmi Badol gathered from 9.30am demanding the PAS state government to return their ancestral land as promised.

Azmi submitted a memorandum to Gua Musang District Office representative Mohd Hilmi Mat Zain after waiting one hour in the yard as the gate was closed and under police guard.

The protesters dressed in Temiar attire with loincloth, palm leaves wrapped around the head and blowpipes in hand also sang traditional songs.

He told reporters the memorandum was similar to the one submitted to Menteri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat on Feb 14 demanding the state government to stop land acquisition.

Critics claimed that Ladang Rakyat project involves logging thus causing the orang asli community to lose of their source of earnings.

Two days ago, over 1,000 people dressed in red held a protest in front of Kelantan state government building Kota Darulnaim in Kota Bharu.

- Bernama