Gua Musang Orang Asli have revitalised efforts to protect their ancestral lands, this time setting up blockades not just to hinder loggers, but also durian plantations.

Kelantan Orang Asli Villages Network (JKOAK) chief Mustafa Along said forests were being cleared and logged in Pos Tohoi to make way for Musang King durian plantations.

Other locations such as Chawas, were being cleared for rubber trees, while oil palm plantations were also encroaching on forests in Kuala Wok.

Fellow JKOAK leader Azmi Badul demanded that the government put a stop to the deforestation.

"We demand that the government stop the logging and opening of large scale plantations," Azmi said.

He claimed all Orang Asli land in Gua Musang should be protected, as per a magistrate court ruling that prevented loggers from encroaching on land in Pos Balar.

"The destruction and grabbing of our ancestral land on a large scale, mass deforestation due to uncontrolled logging, the extinction of herbs and other resources for traditional uses... our rivers and water embankments... all are becoming more critical," Azmi said.

Deforestation a longstanding issue

"We will not budge. We are the Orang Asli of Kelantan and Malaysia who have lived here since the time of our ancestors... we will defend (our lands) as best we can," he added.

Deforestation and logging in Gua Musang are longstanding issues which the local Orang Asli communtiy have been fighting against for years.

Most recently, on Thursday, they set up blockades in Chawas, Gua Cha and Pos Gob to deter such activities.

Mustafa, however, said that the blockade in Chawas had been destroyed when the villagers left for lunch yesterday.

"We don't know who damaged the blockage, whether it was the Forestry Department or loggers.

"But today four forestry officers came to take pictures for their report to their superiors," Mustafa said.

The blockade has since been rebuilt.

Related story: The simmering disquiet of Gua Musang