TAPAH: About 50 Tok Batin (village heads) and Orang Asli representatives from three districts lodged police reports on Tuesday (June 9) over slanderous allegations circulating on social media against the Tok Batin of the Lubuk Gaharu Orang Asli Village (KOA), Mohd Asmmadi Abdullah.
The complainants, from Batang Padang, Muallim and Kinta districts, said the reports were made over allegations linked to the recent rescue of female hiker Jaslinda Saludin at Gunung Batu Putih.
Lata Kinjang KOA Tok Batin Rani a/l Bah Ulin said the report was lodged following the circulation of video content by a social media user who allegedly issued baseless statement that tarnished the reputation of Mohd Asmmadi and the Orang Asli leadership institution.
He said they were disappointed with allegations that Mohd Asmmadi had hidden or kept Jaslinda during the period she was reported missing, before she was later found by Orang Asli residents near the Lubuk Gaharu KOA.
"Those allegations are unfounded and deeply hurt the feelings of the Orang Asli community, as if we are a community that takes advantage of others’ misfortune.
"We see it as an insult not only to Tok Batin Asmmadi, but also to the entire Tok Batin institution, which has always played a role in helping communities regardless of race, especially during emergencies,” he said when met by Bernama after lodging the police reports at the Tapah District Police Headquarters here today.
Earlier, a video clip went viral on TikTok from the account "jokerspillthetea77”, which alleged that Jaslinda had been "confined” by the tok batin for two weeks and that if the matter had not gone viral, the tok batin might have married her.
Meanwhile, Orang Asli youth representative Eris Joshan a/l Chew Ho Beng, 22, urged the authorities to take stern action against the person responsible, saying the claims had tarnished the image of the tok batin involved in the search operation and cast a negative light on the entire Orang Asli community.
"The Tok Batin is a respected community leader and the pillar of Orang Asli leadership. Any insult against them indirectly affects the entire Orang Asli community in Malaysia.
"We, the Orang Asli, also have dignity that must be respected, because what some may see as a joke can become an insult that impacts the whole community,” he said.
He aso hopes that that appropriate legal action could be taken against the individual involved to serve as a lesson not to belittle or insult the Tok Batin institution and the Orang Asli community. - Bernama
