Orang Asli claims man from logging company shoved money into his hands

Filepic is for illustration purposes.

IPOH: An Orang Asli villager from Pos Piah, Gerik has lodged a report alleging that he was forced to receive a RM1,150 "contribution" from a logging company that was operating near their settlement.

Pos Piah Orang Asli Network chairman Najib Alang said the man had grabbed his hand and gave him the money.

"They have never offered us anything before. I refused to accept it and he grabbed my hand and just shoved it at me," he told reporters after lodging the report at the district police station here on Tuesday (Aug 20).

Najib said that the company has been operating near their settlement since 2016, adding that he had lodged a similar report on Aug 5 on the matter at the Sungai Siput district police station.

"However, the police asked us to settle the matter between me and the man at the Lintang sub-police station in Sungai Siput and to accept the money," he claimed.

He said that the Orang Asli are fighting for their rights and defending their ancestral land, adding that he wants to return the money to the man or to the company as the act is suspicious.

"I hope the police will help me give the money back," he said. If the police can't help us, we will seek the help from the environmental non-governmental organisations to help us," said Najib.  - Star