KOTA BARU: The Peninsular Malaysia Orang Asli Villages Network (Jkoasm) has called on the Kelantan state government to provide an open and transparent explanation regarding the status of Permanent Forest Reserves (HSK) in Ulu Gua Musang.
The group expressed concern over widespread forest destruction, encroachment on customary territories, and escalating human-wildlife conflicts in the area.
Its representative Nur Mohd Syafiq Dendi Abdullah said the state government must specify the exact location, status, and acreage of retained forest reserves, as well as areas that have been degazetted or reclassified.
He noted that on-ground observations revealed large-scale deforestation in several areas, including HSK Gunung Berangkat or Stong Selatan, Sungai Perias, Kuala Balah, and Sungai Betis.
“We are seeing a reality very different from claims that our forests are being preserved. That is why we are calling for an independent audit and for land status data and maps to be disclosed to the public,” he told a press conference yesterday, Bernama reported.
Nur Mohd Syafiq added that the group was deeply concerned over natural forests being cleared for commercial crops such as acacia, rubber clones, oil palm, Musang King durian, and coffee.
He stressed that these developments directly impacted Orang Asli customary land rights, threatening biodiversity, water sources, and wildlife habitats.
The group called for a moratorium on new development approvals in areas with overlapping Orang Asli customary land claims, pending an independent investigation and audit into logged or cleared forest land.
