The Orang Asli in Kelantan must be given a new piece of land for their agricultural activities.

Jeli MP Mustapa Mohamed said problems faced by the Orang Asli - currently trapped in the mainstream of development - would be forwarded to the Kelantan government.

"The state government should be concerned with the problems faced by the Orang Asli who live in the state," he told reporters after a meeting with the Kelantan Federal Development Department, Orang Asli Development Department and Risda in Kota Baru tonight.

Mustapa, who is also international trade and industry minister, said at Sungai Rual in Jeli, for example, the Orang Asli population had increased and they needed new land for farming.

"When the settlement was opened, there were only 165 families comprising 691 residents, but due to migration, the Orang Asli population in the area has increased.

"We (Jeli parliamentary constituents) will prepare a working paper on the problems faced by the Orang Asli in the area, covering aspects of their socio-economic development in the future," he said.

- Bernama