Govt planning fund for Orang Asli property damaged by wildlife

 

The government is planning to establish a fund to compensate Orang Asli for their damaged property and plantations caused by wildlife encroachment.

Natural Resources, Environment, and Climate Change minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said current policies only provide for the Orang Asli community when there is death over human-wildlife conflict.

However, he said a “low hanging fruit” would be to discuss with the Finance Ministry over including more remuneration for such incidents.

“The government does provide compensation where there is death for wildlife conflict but there is none yet per se on property or kebun (plantation).

“We have started discussions with MAFS (Agriculture and Food Security Ministry) and will bring it to the attention of the Finance Ministry (to include it in) next year’s budget to start the scheme.

“Overcoming (wildlife) conflict will take time but it is some form of remuneration back to those who are affected by it. This is a token we can give back to them to lessen the conflict,” he said.

He added that the scheme will also benefit village folk and Felda settlers who reside by forests.

Nik Nazmi (above) said he will meet the Finance Ministry in two weeks to discuss the matter, adding that the policy guidelines and budget framework have already been prepared.

He said this to reporters after delivering the keynote speech at the 12th Orang Asli Land Conference in Petaling Jaya, Selangor today.

The minister held a dialogue session with conference participants who took turns sharing their woes, surrounding topics such as human-wildlife conflict and the loss of Orang Asli land reserve.

With regard to the latter, Nik Nazmi promised to bring their comments to the Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia (Perhutanan) and the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) to iron out the implementation of laws and policies.

He vowed to solve the Orang Asli community’s concerns as they were directly impacted by any activities that took place in the forest. - Mkini