IPOH:The Orang Asli of Kampung Kenang, Jalong Tinggi in Sungai Siput are suffering from sleepless nights as they worry that the tanah adat (customary land) that they have been cultivating for generations now has “new owners”.
Spokesman for the 35 affected families, Itam Dol Busu, 65, from the Temiang tribe said that the Orang Asli have been using the land since 1972, planting crops on the 50.6ha of agriculture land,near their houses.
He and the rest are members of the Kampung Kenang Orang Asli Customary Land Action Committee.
He said they had planted rubber and oil palm, and that since 2003, applications to have the plot gazetted as Orang Asli reserve land have been made, but to no avail.
“However, since last year, unknown people have been coming to our plantation saying that they wish to purchase the land, with the most recent visit made last month.
“When we did a search at the Land and Mines Office recently, we were shocked when we found out that grant titles were given to outsiders.
“For so many years, efforts have been made to apply for the land title, but we haven't received any positive news. This is frustrating as we do not have a piece of land to call our own,” he told reporters after presenting a memorandum to the Mentri Besar’s office here Wednesday (June 26).
Itam Dol said they were worried with the new development (land titles), as they don’t want to suffer the same fate as that of a group of Orang Asli chased from their own land in Simpang Pulai.
He claimed some people had approached them stating that they would be offered RM350,000 for the land, which they refused.
“If divided by the 35 families, each household will only get about RM10,000 each. How long can RM10,000 last?" he asked.
“At least by cultivating this piece of land on our own, we get fixed income between RM700 and RM800 every month to run our households,” he said.
Itam Dol said he hoped Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad would look into the matter seriously.
“We also hope that the Mentri Besar cancels the land title given to outsiders, and have a transparent and clear negotiation process with the Orang Asli community," he said.
Efforts are being made to get a response from the Mentri Besar’s office.
