Orang Asli Gombak event faces hurdles after inviting PN leaders

The Peninsular Malaysia Orang Asli Association (Poasm) was suddenly informed last night they no longer have permission from the Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) to use the multipurpose hall in Gombak, Selangor for their annual general meeting (AGM).

According to Poasm deputy president Sakaria Awang, they were told it was because the association invited opposition leaders to officiate their AGM.

“We got the approval on April 16, Jakoa also already gave an official letter for us to use the hall but yesterday at 7.30pm, they sent an official email to cancel the usage of the hall.

“The reason stated there (in the email) is that we invited officiants from the opposition party,” Sakaria (above) said when contacted by Malaysiakini today.

The Poasm AGM, scheduled to be held at 11.30am today at the Gombak multipurpose hall, had invited leaders from Gerakan, a party in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition, including its president Dominic Lau.

Sakaria said they also received information from the Gombak police district headquarters that the association may be charged with trespassing if they went ahead and used the hall without a permit.

Govt leaders didn’t respond

However, he said Poasm will proceed with their plans to hold their AGM in the hall today.

“We have many people attending… the opposition leaders will also come. We don’t know what will happen, but let’s see,” he said.

Sakaria said the association had attempted to invite government representatives and the invitation letters were sent out as early as two months ago.

Gerakan president Dominic Lau

However, they did not receive any response from the government.

“It seems like they are not interested in helping us. There was no response (from the government), so we invited opposition leaders instead,” Sakaria said.

Gerakan pledges to help if legal action taken

Lau, when contacted by Malaysiakini, said the AGM was running as usual at the Gombak multipurpose hall.

“We didn’t do anything wrong. According to the organiser, the reason for the cancellation was because the officiator was not from the government.

“However, the organiser felt it was unreasonable, so the event was held as usual.

“If the enforcement body takes legal action, Gerakan legal bureau will help POASM to defend their rights, because we have done nothing wrong,” said the Gerakan chief.

Lau, who was the officiator, added that no police officer was seen at the event but he was told by the organiser that they received a call from the Gombak police before the meeting. - Mkini