Displaced Orang Asli: Kamil says PM powerless, tells Pahang govt not to dally on solution

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has no authority to direct the Pahang state government on matters involving land administration, his political secretary Kamil Abdul Munim said.

According to Kamil (above), Anwar has no power to direct the Pahang government on land matters, but has nonetheless continued to engage with the Orang Asli community to resolve the displacement in Kampung Sungai Cot, Maran.

"He will continue to play the role of facilitator by bringing this issue to the attention of the Pahang government so that a fair, prudent and lawful solution can be reached as soon as possible," he said in a statement today.

Yesterday, Orang Asli villager Juliana Jazlin Ismail came to Anwar’s official residence in Kajang after a meeting with the prime minister, which was allegedly promised to discuss the displacement of her people, did not materialise.

Previously, she and her seven-year-old daughter had walked for two days to the premier’s residence, prompting Anwar to personally assure their grievances would be heard on a phone call.

Kamil said that Anwar was aware of the community’s concern after representatives from Kampung Sungai Cot and environmental group Preservation of National Heritage Malaysia (Peka) visited Anwar’s residence yesterday.

“It should be emphasised that the prime minister has taken note of the matters raised and immediately contacted representatives of the Orang Asli community to hear firsthand about the grievances they are facing,” he added.

Don’t politicise issue

Kamil also cautioned against politicising the issue by misrepresenting constitutional boundaries, saying this would only confuse the public and delay efforts to resolve the dispute.

He urged the Pahang government to act without further delay, stressing that the Orang Asli community should not continue to bear the consequences of slow decision-making.

“The rights and welfare of the Orang Asli cannot continue to be affected by delays. They deserve a fair, dignified and timely resolution,” he said.

On July 17, Kampung Sungai Cot villagers and NGOs visiting Anwar’s residence in Kajang sought federal intervention in a land dispute involving their village.

The villagers claimed that the dispute, which had been ongoing since 2015, happened after the Pahang government sold their ancestral land to a developer.

Peka president Rajesh Nagarajan claimed that a few homes in the village had been demolished amid land clearing and logging activities, leaving them without shelter.

The community’s plight later gained the attention of Tengku Ampuan Pahang Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, who offered a temporary settlement on her land at Kuala Wau, Maran.

However, Juliana had respectfully declined the invitation, stressing that she must defend her community's customary land rights.

Juliana had instead offered to gift a handwoven gift to Tunku Azizah as a symbol of goodwill.

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