Orang Asli village chiefs seek to apologise over land protest

 

A protest by the Johor Network of Orang Asli Villages on May 8 has been disavowed by the heads of three villages. (Facebook pic)

JOHOR BAHRU: The Tok Batin (chiefs) of three Orang Asli villages in Johor have dissociated themselves from a protest held outside the menteri besar’s office last month.

A representative of the village head of Kampung Orang Asli Kemidak, Hadi Baya, said the protest was not part of Orang Asli culture, Bernama reported.

He said an audience would be sought with the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, to express regret and to apologise to the ruler.

Hadi said the Johor Network of Orang Asli Villages (JPOAJ), which organised the protest, did not represent the whole Orang Asli community, which is estimated to comprise 20,000 people.

Hadi said his people will cooperate and support the state and federal governments in the efforts to develop the Orang Asli community in all aspects including education, social and economy.

More than 200 Orang Asli had gathered outside the menteri besar’s office in Iskandar Puteri on May 8 to hand in a memorandum in protest against a proposal that the status of Orang Asli land be converted from customary land to sultanate land.

The sultan had proposed the conversion after expressing disappointment that some Orang Asli had illegally cleared forest reserves for large-scale rubber and oil palm cultivation.

Placing Orang Asli land and reserves as sultanate land would mean “no party can act as they please”, the sultan said.

Sari Achu, Tok Batin of Kampung Orang Asli Berasau in Kluang, when contacted today, deemed the protest as embarrassing. He urged JPOAJ to not taint the reputation of the Orang Asli.

Lim Abdul Rahman, Tok Batin of the Kangkar Senangar Orang Asli village in Batu Pahat said there were other ways to voice their views or dissatisfaction.

“We disagree (with the protest) that they claimed to represent all Orang Asli…we have never agreed with the action, so we feel ashamed,” he said when contacted.

On Friday, state executive councillor Zahari Sarip said discussions on the sultanate land proposal should not be carried out openly. - FMT