The Peninsula Malaysia Orang Asli Villages Network (JKOASM) today submitted a protest letter to the Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) for pressing ahead with its land alienation and development policy concerning the Orang Asli community.

NONE This, JKOASM working committee member Shafie Dris said, contradicted Jakoa's promise to discontinue the policy at the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) inquiry into the land rights of indigenous people.

"We found out that work (based on the policy) was still being carried out in June, there were officers conducting land measurements and distributing forms of undertaking to the Orang Asli," he said when contacted by Malaysiakini.

Shafie said some 30 representatives from the Orang Asli community in Kelantan, Pahang and Perak were present to handover the protest letter.

He added that it was inappropriate for Jakoa to proceed with the policy while the Suhakam inquiry continues. 

"Even though Suhakam has not produced its report, Jakoa has already broken its promise. They are pressing on with this policy.

"We hope after handing over the letter we can meet with Jakoa, he said.