Department urged to work with Orang Asal

KOTA KINABALU: Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (JOAS) strongly condemned the demolition of houses in Kampung Bobotong, Tongod on March 17, by the Sabah Forestry Deparment because the villagers allegedly have encroached on forest reserve.

It is reliably learnt that the Sabah Forestry Department has since halted the demolition process and has given the villagers until March 30 to move out from the area before they proceed the demolition operations.

“The Dusun Kiulu have been living in the area well before the area is gazetted as forest reserve land and they have planted fruit tree, oil palm in the area to earn a living,” said Juhaidi Marindal, the Sabah chapter Vice President of JOAS.

“The department ought to engage with the villagers to find a peaceful solution before taking such drastic actions,” added Juhaidi in a statement yesterday.

JOAS president Yusri Ahon said he is alarmed by actions of the Forestry Department both in Sabah and in Peninsular Malaysia. Not too long ago the Kelantan Forestry Department demolished the blockade built by the Temiar Orang Asli to protect the forest from logging activities.

“Rather than vilifying us, the Orang Asal, we hope that the Forestry Department will engage with us meaningfully. The Orang Asal in Sabah, have successfully practiced conservation methods such as the Tagal system, which restores fish populations in rivers.

“They (Forestry Department) should stop their aggressive methods and start working with the Orang Asal to preserve our remaining forest,” he added.

JOAS secretariat director, Beverly Joeman, reiterated that Malaysia is a signatory to the UNDRIP which requires states to consult and cooperate in good faith with indigenous peoples through their own representative institutions in order to obtain their free prior and informed consent (FPIC) before adopting and implementing legislative or administrative measures that may affect them.