Orang asli customary land rights must be protected

THE Malaysian Bar is disappointed by the action taken by the Perak state government on May 16 to demolish the blockade set up by the orang asli community at Kampung Tasik Cunex, Gerik, Perak, to protect lands claimed to be within their customary territory and to bar entry by logging trucks.

Perak Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal justified the demolition of the blockade by contending that both the blockade and logging were carried out on state land and that the loggers’ activities were in compliance with the law.