Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) has ticked off the Kelantan government for describing the stand-off between loggers and Orang Asli in Gua Musang last week as a mere case of "misunderstanding".

PSM Orang Asli affairs bureau coordinator Suresh Kumar said this was not a case of misunderstanding but a flagrant intrusion into the Orang Asli community's land.

"The statement by Kelantan deputy menteri besar that the blockade (by the Orang Asli) was due to a misunderstanding between the loggers and the Orang Asli is childish.

"PSM visited the blockade site on Oct 4 and it is clear that it is not a misunderstanding but a violation of the Orang Asli community's rights by the logging company and the Kelantan government," he said.

Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar Mohd Amar yesterday said the logging was a source of revenue for the state and it cannot be blocked without proper grounds.

"Besides, all logging activities were done according to the standard operating procedures determined by the Forestry Department," he was quoted as saying by Astro Awani.

Suresh also criticised Amar for dismissing requests by the Orang Asli community that each family be granted 50 acres of land.

He said this would only translate to approximately 175,000 acres of land for 3,500 families or 8.6 percent of the total area in Gua Musang.

Suresh added that a memorandum by the Orang Asli submitted to the Kelantan government had gone unanswered for six months.

The Orang Asli set up a blockade against the intrusion of their customary land on Sept 27. According to Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Kelantan (JKOAK), the blockade was dismantled by loggers the next day but it has been since re-erected.