A group of Orang Asli in Johor has protested against the proposal to convert their reserves in the state into "sultanate land" this morning.
According to Sinar Daily, over 200 Orang Asli gathered in front of the Johor Menteri Besar Office in Kota Iskandar at 10am to hold an orderly demonstration as well as submit a memorandum pertaining to the matter.
Johor Network of Orang Asli Villages (JPOAJ) chairperson Dolah Tekoi said the community is concerned that they may be classified as temporary residents on the lands, making them vulnerable to eviction at any time.
"This protest is not for personal gain but to defend our rights. We are more comfortable with the old system of placing the lands under the normal reserve system, which is under the Aboriginal People's Act and the National Land Code.
"There is a total of 18,000 Orang Asli in Johor comprising Jakun, Temuan, Seletar, Duanu, Orang Laut tribes, among them living in Mersing, Segamat, Kluang, Batu Pahat, Johor Bahru and Pontian," Dolah was quoted as saying.
The memorandum, which not only outlined their objections to the proposal but also contained proposals for customary land management, was submitted to Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi via his secretary after the protest.
JPOAJ previously stated on April 16 that they planned to submit an official letter of protest to the state government and the Orang Asli Development Department.
On March 16, Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar requested the state to declare all Orang Asli reserves and villages as sultanate land to prevent the misappropriation of the land.
The Johor ruler said that this was necessary because some Orang Asli had converted state forest reserves into extensive palm oil and rubber plantations.
The Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954 (Act 134) protects Orang Asli reserves from alienation or disposal, but state governments have the power to revoke this protection.
Meanwhile, Johor's Sultanate Lands Enactment states that plots as sultanate land are owned by the ruler and cannot be sold, leased, or disposed of without the sultan's written permission.
Target exploiters only
Dolah suggested that if the claims of certain Orang Asli collaborating with outsiders to exploit the reserves are valid, then only those individuals should be held accountable, rather than punishing the entire community.
He said he intends to raise this concern with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim within the next two weeks.
Additionally, Dolah said the community was willing to meet with Sultan Ibrahim regarding the issue. - Mkini
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