Johor to hold discussions with Orang Asli over sultanate land

 

Any discussions on the status and suggested gazettement of Orang Asli settlements under sultanate land need to be done through roundtable discussions and not openly.

State Agriculture, Agro-Industry and Rural Development Committee chairperson Zahari Sarip said he recently voiced the matter during a meeting with the Orang Asli community at several villages.

“There were some who asked about the matter. I asked them to hold a roundtable discussion and not to do it openly, as I am concerned some parties may take advantage.

“I was taken to look at an area in Kampung Sayong Pinang, Kota Tinggi, where the Orang Asli are cultivating oil palm and rubber, so that’s actually not an issue.

“The state government, however, is still in discussions with the Orang Asli community, and we hope to resolve this matter,” he said.

State Agriculture, Agro-Industry and Rural Development Committee chairperson Zahari Sarip

Zahari told this to reporters when speaking about discussions between the state government and the Orang Asli community regarding the sultanate land issue today.

Orang Asli protest

Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar had on March 16 voiced his disappointment over some Orang Asli trespassing on government forest reserves for the purported large-scale cultivation of rubber and oil palm.

The sultan expressed his belief that there were some outside parties behind the acts and was taking advantage through the use of Orang Asli's rights.

The ruler urged the government to re-gazette the Orang Asli settlements and reserves under sultanate land.

This led over 200 Orang Asli in the state to gather in front of the Dato Jaafar Muhammad Building, Kota Iskandar, Iskandar Puteri.

They handed over a memorandum protesting against the suggestion to turn Orang Asli customary land into sultanate land on May 8.

- Bernama