In a TikTok video, Juliana Jazlin Ismail, 34, who walked and hitchhiked to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's residence in Kajang on July 17, said she was grateful for Tengku Ampuan Pahang Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah's offer but could not accept it.
"I cannot accept the offer because our community's customary land is in Sungai Cot, and I have to defend it. Our customary land is our source of income and will continue to provide for future generations as it is located near the forest.
"We, the Orang Asli, depend on the forest's resources to sustain our lives," she said in the video recorded in front of the Sultan Ahmad Shah Administration Centre in Kuantan today.
Juliana repeatedly expressed her gratitude to Tengku Ampuan Pahang for offering the land and recognising the Orang Asli community as "Orang Kita", an integral part of Pahang's people.
She said the community would meet Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail to raise the issue before meeting Anwar in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.
"I hope to meet the Tengku Ampuan Pahang after returning from Kuala Lumpur to present Her Royal Highness with a handwoven souvenir. I will weave it myself," she said, overcome with emotion.
Juliana said she did not seek an easy life or wealth, but wished to remain close to the jungle and continue living on her ancestral land.
Earlier, Tengku Ampuan Pahang expressed concern over the land dispute and offered land in Kuala Wau for Orang Asli families from Kampung Sungai Cot who needed housing.
On July 17, Anwar assured Juliana during a telephone conversation that he would help resolve the issue with the Pahang government.
The community claimed that land belonging to dozens of Jakun families was sold by the Pahang government to a developer in 2015, with several homes later demolished or burned in alleged eviction attempts. - NST
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