ORANG Asli from six kampung have formed several blockades in Gua Musang, Kelantan, this morning to protest against the logging activities in the forest reserve which encroach into their land.

Mohd Syafiq Dendi, chairman of the customary land territory in Pos Simpor, said the protesters have set up three blockades at Chawas, Tohoi and Kuala Wok early today.

“The blockades started this morning. This is against logging and commercial farming. 

“They are encroaching into Orang Asli territory. Stop the logging now,” he told The Malaysian Insight. 

He said the protest was purely an Orang Asli effort against the Kelantan government for supporting deforestation. 

Dendi said he hoped for more villagers affected by the logging would join the blockade.

“This is the voice of the Orang Asli people. It does not include outside people for now.” 

Dendi said the protestors will not leave until the state government signals a genuine interest to negotiate with them or if they are forcefully evicted.

“We don’t know what they (the government) would do. It is either they take down the blockades or some of us get arrested. We will see.” 

Over the past two years, Orang Asli communities have set up several blockades in the state, but the Kelantan Forestry Department tore them down and arrested some protesters.

The PAS-led Kelantan government has come under fire for not protecting the Orang Asli and their rights pertaining to land matters. – February 17, 2018.