In what appeared to be an attempt to delay yesterday's crackdown on the Orang Asli's blockade in the interiors of Gua Musang, Kelantan, activists sang the national anthem Negaraku when they saw the authorities approaching.

In a two-minute video depicting the incident, the authorities are shown approaching the boom gate at the entrance to the blockade.

As they reached the boom gate, the Orang Asli began singing the national anthem Negaraku, and for a few moments, the authorities seemed to stop in honour of the national anthem.

Eventually, about a third way into the nationaol anthem, the spell broke and the authorities issued a warning.

"You have been asked to leave this area. Your blockade and the infrastructure set up here is a crime under the National Forestry Act.

"The reason why we are here today is to demolish the blockade and also whatever buildings are here," one of the authorities announced, using a loudhailer, as they breached the boom gate.

Repeatedly ordered to stand down

The activists seemed not to be making any move to leave, and the authorities repeatedly told them to stand down.

In the crackdown yesterday, the police arrested at least 41 Orang Asli activists, who would face their remand hearing today.

Malaysiakini was made to understand some 100 personnel from the  General Operations Force (GOF) of the police were mobilised for the operation and were accompanied by Kelantan Forestry Department officers.

The crackdown was depicted in several other videos, none of which lasted longer than 30 seconds.

There were scenes of wooden huts being destroyed with what appeared to be a chainsaw, as well as of authorities kicking down the poles holding up the huts and later, the Orang Asli looking on at their destroyed structures in the rain as they put on raincoats.

The 41 activists who were arrested and held at the Gua Musang district police headquarters were supposedly arrested by the Kelantan Forestry Department.

The activists were reportedly told that the police only "facilitated" the operation to ensure that everything went smoothly.