Perak MB slammed for implying Orang Asli “encroachers”

An Orang Asli affairs activist has slammed Perak Menteri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu for describing indigenous people are “encroachers”, pointing out the situation of the Orang Asli people was now worse when compared to BN's tenure.

Speaking at the unveiling of Suaram's 2018 Malaysia Human Rights Report today, Tijah Yok Chapil (above) said the indigenous community was disappointed that although they helped bring Pakatan Harapan to power, their rights were now ignored.

"Harapan has become the government but it's the same, even worse. The leaders of Pakatan, for example, the Perak menteri besar, said something very disrespectful," said Tijah, president of Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Semenanjug Malaysia (JKOASM).

"They claim they want to be a better government than BN but what did they say? They called us encroachers. They said we are encroaching government land."

Tijah said for the 14th general election, the Orang Asli community had shifted their support to Harapan including to Faizal Azumu who is Chenderiang assemblyperson.

Faizal won the seat by a razor-thin majority of 39 votes in GE14. The seat comprises 34 percent of Malay, 30 percent Chinese, 15 percent Indian and 22 percent other races which includes the Orang Asli.

Recently, Faizal had defended the action of enforcement personnel in removing a blockade set-up by the Orang Asli community in Kampung Tasik Cunex in Gerik, and described logging activities there as “lawful”.

He also claimed the Perak Harapan government had not sanctioned the land there as Orang Asli native customary land. A signboard has been erected at the site declaring the land as "government land" and that "encroachers" will be prosecuted.

“This is not a cowboy country, we have laws. So if there are people freely encroaching on government land without regard to lawful provisions, we need to take appropriate action," the menteri besar was reported to have said.

Tijah, a Semai, however, pointed out that indigenous people had settled in the Kuala Lumpur area long before the colonial times but chose to concede the area as they did not like any confrontation.

"So please don't disturb our way of life now. We have nothing else to concede. We are like at the end of the mountain now, we can't concede any more," she said with tears.

She urged the Harapan government to recognise the Orang Asli rights and not be hypocritical.   - Mkini