Pahang govt chides Jakoa state director over controversial remarks on Oraco

The Pahang government has warned Johari Alwi, the state’s Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) director, for allegedly making misleading remarks about the ongoing dispute between the Orang Asli community and a state-owned company.

In an official statement published on the state’s Facebook page, Pahang state secretary Zulkifli Yaacob highlighted that Johari’s comments were related to the commercial replanting projects (TSK) involving the Orang Asli community and the state-owned Orang Asli Corporation Sdn Bhd (Oraco).

Zulkifli clarified that Johari (above) and Jakoa director-general Sapiah Md Nor were aware of Oraco’s appointment as the agency responsible for managing the Orang Asli’s TSK, as they were appointed to Oraco’s board of directors on Nov 16, 2021.

“It is inappropriate for him (Johari), as a civil servant, to issue misleading and provocative statements that could negatively impact the state government and be seen as violating the Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) Regulations 1993 and the Official Secrets Act 1972 (Act 88),” Zulkifli said.

It is believed that Zulkifli was referring to a now-deleted TikTok video posted on Sept 3, in which Johari, while not directly mentioning Oraco, questioned why a state-owned company had entered an Orang Asli village without consulting the villagers or their tok batin (village chief).

In the video sighted by Malaysiakini, Johari further commented that the company should have approached the villagers before taking their crops in the TSK project.

“Even if we rent out a house, we can’t just enter it (as the owner). We need permission,” Johari said in the video. “So yes, I disagree with what happened. They were rude and lacked manners just because they had power. That is wrong,” added Johari, who is also an Orang Asli.

In the same video, Johari acknowledged that he and Sapiah were on Oraco’s board of directors but denied requesting the appointment, stating that Pahang Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail had invited them.

Previously, the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda) managed the Orang Asli’s land under group replanting and TSK projects.

In 2022, Wan Rosdy stated that Oraco was established to enhance the welfare and economic interests of the Orang Asli, ensuring their empowerment and protection.

On Aug 1, Orang Asli activist Eliana Tan expressed her disappointment after Oraco continued to take over the Orang Asli’s TSK projects despite opposition from the villagers.

Yesterday, another Orang Asli activist, Zurdi Baharu, claimed that Johari had resigned from Oraco amid growing tensions between the Orang Asli community and Oraco.

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