Orang Asli activist rues lack of consultation in Oraco’s takeover

Orang Asli communities in Pahang were not properly consulted before a state-owned corporation took over replanting projects previously managed by the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda).

This is according to Orang Asli activist Eliana Tan, who voiced anger and disappointment towards the Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) and the Pahang government on the matter.

She said some villagers’ commercial replanting projects (TSK) have already been taken over by the Pahang Orang Asli Corporation (Oraco) despite their opposition, which does not follow the principles of free, prior, transparent, and informed consent, and violates the Orang Asli’s right to self-determination.

Eliana, who is of Jakun descent, said she is disappointed by Jakoa and the state government’s apparent lack of seriousness in recognising native customary land rights and is instead busy setting up special purposes bodies to manage and develop Orang Asli land.

She is also disappointed with Jakoa for agreeing to allow Oraco to take over TSK and group replanting (TSB) projects without discussing them with local communities.

“Jakoa and the state government should instead be expediting the gazetting of Orang Asli customary land and territory and respect our rights as the first people of this land,” she said in a statement last night.

“Oraco is said to be a state government-owned company but to me, it is more towards business interests because it is a private limited company and we don’t know its purpose and who is involved in its execution,” she added.

Previously, it was reported that Jakoa had asked Risda to help develop land in Orang Asli settlements some 30 years ago but Oraco has since been asked to take over Risda’s TSK and TSB projects.

In a speech circulating on social media, Oraco CEO Muhammad Olian Abdullah had denied the company was taking over Orang Asli land and was merely managing projects “abandoned” by Risda after it supposedly fled because it couldn’t pay RM78million in tax arrears to the state government.

Pahang Islamic Affairs, Rural Development, and Orang Asli Affairs Committee chairperson Syed Ibrahim Syed Ahmad has since clarified that the tax issue had been long resolved, while Risda chairperson Manndzri Nasib had said he was taken aback by Olian’s remarks because the projects involved an understanding between Risda and the state government.

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