Faced with the threat of an assault to breach their anti-logging blockade, activists and Orang Asli in Gua Musang placed their hopes in the state government deciding in their favour.

This was expressed in a memorandum they sent to Kelantan MB's political secretary Wan Roslan Wan Hamat at the Darul Naim Complex in Kota Baru yesterday.

The memo was signed by the Temiar Orang Asli community, socialist party PSM and 28 other NGOs, including Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (Jerit), the National Human Rights Association (Hakam) and local NGO 'R'.

"As Kelantanese residents we want this issue to be resolved amicably, avoid bloodshed and through dialogue between the Orang Asli and all NGOs involved," R coordinator Mohd Hisyamuddin Ghazali who led the delegation, said in a statement.

They want the state government to conduct negotiations with the Orang Asli at the venue of the anti-logging barricades.

Starting from one blockade site at Pos Tohoi, the anti-logging barricades have now expanded to four more sites at Pos Simpor, Pos Gob, Pos Pasik and Pos Petei, and has led led to about 1,600 tonnes of logged timber being stopped from being shipped out and sold.

The Kelantan Logging Association said on Nov 2 that the timber worth RM1.6 million logged from the Balah Reserve Forest are now just lying around at the logging site. The association is asking the green light from the Kelantan government to rush and breach the blockades.

Malay daily Berita Harian reported that the association's deputy president Cheong Kok Tong said that they have lost their patience after weeks of having to endure losses.

"We will still get into the Balah Reserve Forest to extract the 1,600 tonnes of timber that was logged, even if the Orang Asli resist.

"We are ready to face and fight them because we are in the right in this issue, we are the ones bearing the loss when we had to stop our logging activities for a time.

"We have reached the limits of our patience. Even if they are 10 blockades, we will still go in and take our timber," he was quoted to have said.

Gov't gives ultimatum

On Nov 6, the Kelantan Forestry Department issued a 14-day notice to the Orang Asli, telling them that they have until Nov 20 to dismantle their blockades at Pos Petei and Pos Pasik.

Failing which, they may be fined RM50,000 or jailed for five years for obstructing access to a forest reserve.

Two days later, the Orang Asli community lodged a police report to express concern over their safety, though Malay daily Utusan Malaysia reported that the community said that they will not comply with the Forestry Department notice.

Meanwhile PAS online party organ Harakahdaily reported that the NGOs involved in the protest and blockade are questionable, noting that some involved in making a lot of noise over the matter are not registered.

The party organ also reported that activists from PAS splinter party Amanah were also involved in the deputation that handed over the memorandum to the state government.

"The Orang Asli community live without conflict in their settlements before this, suddenly they build anti-logging barricades.

"This shows that there are outsiders working behind the scenes. Maybe they do not realise that what the state government did was to take care of their welfare since long ago," Wan Roslan was quoted as saying.