Ministry takes up orang asli land issue

Meeting the people: Sivarasa speaking to the orang asli during his visit to Kampung Kaleg. — Bernama

GUA MUSANG: The Rural Development Mi­­nis­­try will hold a meeting with the Kelantan government to look into gazetting orang asli customary land, says R. Sivarasa.

The deputy minister said they would also invite orang asli representatives and related NGOs for their views.

“However, the gazetting process will take time,” he said after meeting orang asli in Kampung Kaleg on Thursday.

Over the last six months, villagers there had set up a blockade in Pos Tohoi to stop rampant logging and land clearing activities in the disputed customary land.

On Saturday, they also lodged a police report, claiming durian plantation workers had set up a counter-blockade to curb their freedom of movement.

Police acted swiftly to warn plantation workers not to deny orang asli access into the jungle.

Sivarasa said the orang asli wanted to preserve their customary land for the survival of their future generations.

“We will help them to resolve this long-­standing issue,” he said.