'Logging at Perak Orang Asli settlement to stop for now'
Logging activities near the Orang Asli settlement at Tasik Cunex in Grik, Perak are to cease temporarily following a dispute between villagers and the state government, deputy minister Mohamed Farid Mohd Rafik (above) said today.
Farid, who is de facto deputy national unity and social well-being minister, said the Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) had requested that the logging company stop their activities there until a discussion is held between the latter, the villagers and the Perak government.
Logging activities near the Orang Asli settlement at Tasik Cunex in Grik, Perak are to cease temporarily following a dispute between villagers and the state government, deputy minister Mohamed Farid Mohd Rafik (above) said today.
Farid, who is de facto deputy national unity and social well-being minister, said the Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) had requested that the logging company stop their activities there until a discussion is held between the company, the villagers and the Perak government.
The meeting, he said, is to be spearheaded by minister P Waythamoorthy and hopefully will take place sometime next week.
This followed accusations by the Orang Asli community there that the Pakatan Harapan-led Perak government had encroached upon their customary land and that logging activities were carried out without their knowledge or approval.
"What I can confirm today is that Jakoa has taken action (on the matter), and they have requested the minister to meet with the villagers and the logging company sometime next week.
"Jakoa has also asked for logging activities there to cease for the time being, until the matter is discussed with the Orang Asli villagers," he told Malaysiakini when contacted.
Jakoa is a federal government agency which focuses on the well-being of the Orang Asli and falls under the purview of Waythamoorthy and Farid's portfolio within the Prime Minister's Department.
Elaborating, Farid said a discussion between all the parties involved would be the best way towards finding a concrete solution.
He said among the core issues was the fact that land matters fell under state government jurisdiction and Perak is one of several states that do not have gazetted customary land for Orang Asli.
Legal action
"Perak does not have customary land for Orang Asli, but they (Orang Asli) are given kawasan rayau (nomadic areas).
"According to them (the loggers), the logging activities were not carried out at the Orang Asli settlement area, and they practised selective logging where they do not fell all the trees in one area.
"Whatever it is, for me the best way would be to hold a discussion between the Orang Asli, state government and the company [...] because now we are speculating and this is a matter which requires us to be on the ground," said Farid.
He, however, said an exact date for the meeting has yet to be set.
It was reported yesterday that the Kampung Tasik Cunex tok batin (village chief) had lodged a report with the police last Friday (Feb 1) over the logging activities and claimed that when their protests allegedly went unheeded, the community then set up blockades.
The tok batin also claimed that on Jan 30, representatives of the logging company involved, as well as the Perak Forestry Department, had warned the villagers that the logging would continue and that those who resisted would be dealt with by force.
This comes amid legal action by the federal government on behalf of the Gua Musang Orang Asli against the PAS-led Kelantan government over the granting of logging rights to private companies.
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