SHOCK EXPOSE – ORANG ASLI IN PAS-LED KELANTAN FACE HUNGER AS PLEAS FOR HELP GO UNHEARD

FIRST it was elephants, now it’s floods.

These problems have left some 80 families with just a bag of rice to survive on before help arrives in Pos Simpor, near Gua Musang, Kelantan.

Two weeks ago, a herd of wild elephants rampaged through three villages, destroying the crops. The villagers sought help from the Orang Asli Affairs Department (Jakoa) which has yet to respond.

To make matters worse, the villagers said they now faced floods which made it difficult for them to get to the nearest town 5km away to buy food.

Pos Simpor Orang Asli activist Nur Mohd Syafiq Dendi Abdullah told The Malaysian Insight that food was scarce after the elephants destroyed the villagers’ fruit and vegetable plots.

“Our crops were destroyed and eaten by the elephants.

“We are running very low on food and we are only eating rice,” he said.

The Malaysian Insight had reported that land clearing had forced the animals into the villages in search of food.

Syafiq said pleas to Jakoa for aid had fallen on deaf ears.

“We contacted the Kelantan Jakoa director after the incident but have yet to receive a reply.”

“It’s flooding now and we have to be careful.

“Our problem now is we don’t have food and if there is nothing, we will have to eat anything.”

Pos Simpor Orang Asli activist Nur Mohd Syafiq Dendi Abdullah (holding mic) says human encroachment in the jungle surrounding the villages has deprived the wildlife of their habitats and food sources. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, November 16, 2019.

Syafiq said human encroachment in the jungle surrounding the villages had deprived the wildlife of their habitats and food sources.

“Because the trees have been cut down, the elephants have no place to look for food. That’s why they enter our villages.”

The Malaysian Insight is awaiting a response from Jakoa to a request for comment.

The Orang Asli in Gua Musang have fought loggers and planters over the past year, erecting blockades that are promptly dismantled by the state authorities.

Kelantan has issued permits for land clearing and plantations after declaring that the land belongs to the state as the concept of “tanah adat”, or native customary land, does not exist in the state constitution. Land matters are by law under state jurisdiction.

The federal government has filed a suit against Kelantan and five private companies for encroaching on Orang Asli land. Kelantan is seeking to have the matter decided by the Federal Court.

– https://www.themalaysianinsight.com/