Orang asli praying demolition will not go forward
GUA MUSANG: The orang asli are praying hard that the spirit of Merdeka will prevail, and that the order to demolish the blockades put up by them will not come to fruition.
Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Kelantan president Mustafa Along said they would sing NegaraKu “with all our hearts” if the order was indeed executed.
It is learnt that the blockades could be demolished as early as today.
“We are helpless against the authorities who tend to side with loggers, miners and plantation operators despite the destructive nature of their business.
“But we will keep our Merdeka spirit up and sing, to remind those carrying out the demolition works that we have a right to protect our native customary land and our freedom to live in the jungles, just like our forefathers,” Mustafa said yesterday in response to allegations that the Kelantan government ordered the State Forestry Department to immediately demolish the orang asli blockades in Chawas, Kaleeg, Kiyeh and Pasik.
Mustafa said the orang asli reserved the right to put up the blockades again, and to opt for legal action.
The Kelantan government allegedly issued the order following a memorandum submitted by 10 orang asli village chiefs on Aug 16, calling on the authorities to remove the blockades, allocate land for orang asli to carry out agricultural activities, and take stern action against individuals who were allegedly instigating the orang asli against plantation operators.
Mustafa pointed out that the 10 had no locus standi to submit such a memorandum because they were not living in the current areas of dispute.