Group berates Perak govt, Jakoa over Orang Asli land dispute

Summary

• Pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah Alam Malaysia (Peka) chides the Perak government and Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) after it was found that an Orang Asli land in Bidor, Perak had been leased to a private firm.

• Its president Rajesh Nagarajan also berates Siong Emas Sdn Bhd for accusing the Orang Asli community of encroachment.

After a quarry owner laid claim to an Orang Asli land in Bidor, Perak, Pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah Alam Malaysia (Peka) criticised the Perak government and Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) over the matter.

Its president Rajesh Nagarajan asked how the company Siong Emas Sdn Bhd was granted a lease on the land despite it being an Orang Asli ancestral land.

“What was the guardian of the Orang Asli, Jakoa, doing? The Perak government must answer for this horrible crime against the Orang Asli.

“The lands must be returned to the Orang Asli. Jakoa must also be held to account for failing to protect the rights of the Orang Asli,” he said in a statement yesterday.

On April 11, the Orang Asli community of Kampung Chang Lama in Bidor, Perak, protested the alleged encroachment of a company on their ancestral land.

Village tok batin (head) Dahil Yok Chopil said the villagers found signboards along the Jegog area with the name of the company and a warning that trespassers will be prosecuted.

“This action clearly violates the principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which requires the free, prior, and informed consent of the indigenous community, which was not obtained.

“The community has endured repeated instances of land dispossession for projects such as pig farming, Musang King durian cultivation, cattle farming, chalets, oil palm plantations, vegetable farming, rubber plantations, guava cultivation, and temple construction.

“These projects have provided no benefit to the Orang Asli community of Kampung Chang Lama Sungai Gepai, but have instead been detrimental, eliminating their rights to their ancestral land and customary territory, while they continue to live below the poverty line,” Dahil said.

However, Siong Emas managing director Tan Ee Tiam countered their argument, saying it was the Orang Asli who were encroaching on the land.

He pointed out that his company had been granted a 30-year lease for the site on Feb 14, 2007, which expired on May 26, 2022.

Tan added that the lease was further extended to 44 years after being registered on Nov 29, 2021 - expiring May 25, 2066.

‘Such temerity’

Unimpressed, Rajesh said he was dismayed that Tan had the temerity to accuse the Orang Asli of encroachment despite the latter living there for generations.

“The company needs to be reminded that the land in question has always been the land of the Orang Asli from time immemorial.

“This is way before Malaysia gained independence and before the enactment of the National Land Code,” he added.

However, Rajesh pointed out that the real culprit behind the situation was none other than the government, which had failed to protect Orang Asli’s rights.

“A co-culprit is the Perak Land Office, which has seen it fit to sign over land rightfully belonging to the Orang Asli to a private company.”

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