Indigenous group Jaringan Orang Asli SeMalaysia (Joas) is urging the Kelantan state government to resolve the Orang Asli's land issues once and for all.

"We urge the Kelantan state government to negotiate and discuss in person with all Gua Musang Orang Asli communities, and not just discuss with the Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) or with the village elder only.

"A lot of these problems arise when the state government makes decisions by themselves or with the village elders and Jakoa without consulting the other villagers," Joas said in a statement today.

The state authorities, they said, appeared not to take the Orang Asli's issues seriously.

This problem is only made worse, they added, by Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah who said the Orang Asli were instigated by outsiders.

"We think this is a dishonest comment made by someone trying to wash his hands off his responsibility," they said.

The Orang Asli have tried everything to try to preserve their forests, they said, such as holding protests, sending memoranda to the authorities and meeting with state representatives, with little effect.

The blockade is their last resort in defending their lands, which they have customary rights over, Joas said.

They also criticised the state government's excuse that logging is the main income for Kelantan.

Calling it a bad joke that doesn't make sense, Joas said that no state is only reliant on one source of income and that other states have found other sources of income that does not involve destroying the forests and oppressing the Orang Asli.

The Orang Asli have been blockading in Gua Musang, Kelantan since Sept 26 to protest logging.

Subsequently, the Kelantan government issued instructions to halt any logging in the Balah Forest Reserve on Oct 3.