'Probe if Orang Asli pressured to support Kuala Langat forest degazettement'

 

A group defending the North Kuala Langat Forest Reserve is calling for a probe on whether Orang Asli chiefs were pressured or misled into supporting plans to degazette the area.

This came after seven out of eight Orang Asli village chiefs there were reported to have signed letters supporting the controversial plans.

"Some members of the coalition have heard that the signing of the letter by these village chiefs may have been done under duress and/or based on partial or misleading information.

"(This) could have violated the principle of free, prior and informed consent, which is required when dealing with indigenous communities under the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) of which Malaysia is a signatory," said the Defend the North Kuala Langat Forest Reserve coalition (PHSKLU) in a statement today.

Yesterday, The Vibes reported that seven of the North Kuala Langat Orang Asli village chiefs signed letters supporting the forest degazettement in a letter to Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.

The letter was also sent to Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari and state environment exco Hee Loy Sian among others.

The letter is a departure from the Orang Asli's objections to the degazettement, which was voiced during a town hall in September.

Aside from the Orang Asli and NGOs; the Forest Research Institute (Frim), Forestry Department, Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa), and politicians from both sides of the divide have also objected to the plans.

Previously, Amirudin had defended the plans to degazette the 930-hectare reserve, stating that 40 percent of the forest had already “degraded”.

He also pledged that the state government would be gazetting a larger area as a replacement. - Mkini