Environmental NGO Peka has urged Perak menteri besar Saarani Mohamad to speak to the Orang Asli community in Kampung Chang Lama, Bidor, to ascertain for himself claims that their ancestral land had been encroached upon.
Peka president Rajesh Nagarajan said Saarani should not have made a “baseless” dismissal of their claims as it was premature to conclude that no wrongdoing had occurred without visiting the site or speaking to those affected.
“Can he show that the Orang Asli of Kampung Chang Lama were ever consulted or that their prior informed consent was ever obtained (before the land was sold to a quarrying firm)?
“Shouldn’t he at the very least speak to the Orang Asli to investigate and mitigate whatever hardship the Orang Asli are facing now?” Rajesh said in a statement.
Last week, the Orang Asli community in Kampung Chang Lama claimed that quarry firm Siong Emas Sdn Bhd had encroached on their sacred ancestral land.
Village chief Dahil Yok Chopil said the firm violated the United Nations declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples as the consent of the Orang Asli was not obtained. He called for the company’s lease on the land to be revoked.
However, Siong Emas said it had valid land titles and leases extending to 2066, and alleged instead that the encroachment was by the Orang Asli, citing palm oil trees and signage found on the property.
Yesterday, Saarani dismissed the claims and said visiting the site would be unnecessary “since the claims are not true”, Malaysiakini reported.
He also urged the Orang Asli against being easily influenced by certain parties with their agendas.
Rajesh called for an investigation into the role of the Orang Asli development department (Jakoa) in the alleged transfer of the land title, questioning how ancestral land had ended up in the company’s hands.
“Peka will not stand down and will take all legal action necessary to protect the rights of the Orang Asli in Malaysia,” he said.
