Land dispute: Perak MB tells Orang Asli not to be easily swayed

Summary

• The Perak menteri besar calls on Orang Asli people not to buy into attempts to influence them against development efforts.

• Saarani Mohamad says the state government is seeking to uplift the entire state, including the Orang Asli community.

Perak Menteri Besar Saarani Mohamad has urged the Orang Asli community not to be easily swayed by certain quarters pushing particular agendas.

The menteri besar said this when commenting on allegations that the state’s authorities had failed to protect Orang Asli ancestral land in Kampung Chang Lama, Bidor, from quarry company Siong Emas Sdn Bhd.

“I would like to advise the Orang Asli community not to be so easily influenced by claims which are not true.

“We are trying to develop the state, including Orang Asli (areas),” Saarani told reporters today after attending an event at SM Sains Tapah.

When asked if he had any intentions to visit the Orang Asli residents in Kampung Chang Lama, Saarani pointed to his previous statement, asserting that state departments had denied any sort of encroachment by the private company.

“If it is true that (encroachment on Orang Asli land) did happen, I would have to go to the area, but since (the claims) are not true, why would I have to go down?" he questioned.

On April 19, Saarani said the Perak Land and Mines Office and the Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) informed him that there is no truth behind the allegations.

Earlier, village Tok Batin 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.

He said the 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.

Responding to the villagers, Siong Emas managing director Tan Ee Tiam countered that it was the Orang Asli who had “encroached” on the land, as the company holds the land title for a 2.832ha plot called Lot 16225 in Batang Padang.

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