11 Orang Asli from Pos Piah near Gerik, Perak have been arrested for obstructing public officers.

An inspector from the Gerik district police headquarters confirmed the arrests and said that the eleven were being investigated under Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing public servants from carrying out their duties.

It is not clear what exactly transpired, but according to Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj, a group of officers from the police and Forestry Department, as well as loggers, came to Pos Piah today to carry out the arrests.

Jeyakumar in a statement tonight said the Orang Asli had wanted information from the Forestry Department regarding a planned development near their settlement which could have an impact on their sole source of water and fish.

They had also wanted to know which part of the forest near their settlement would be cut down to make way for the project.

Jeyakumar said the Orang Asli had written to the Forestry Department as well as the Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) twice on June 30 and July 24. 

The villagers had previously said they were ready to set up anti-logging blockades if the state government and Forestry Department did not grant them a meeting to discuss the matter soon.