Orang Asli re-erects blockade

The Temiar Orang Asli community has re-erected logging blockades at a forest reserve here despite being arrested by police for doing so just two weeks ago.

The blockades were set up on Saturday at the same three locations before they were tore down by the Kelantan Forestry Department on November 29.

Kelantan Orang Asli Village Network secretary Mustafa Along said the three locations were Simpang Petei at Pos Tohoi, Kelawong, Pos Pasik and Betau Cawas, near Pos Bihai.

"The Orang Asli community will continue to put up logging blockades if the state government do not make a decision on the their claims on the reserve land," he said.

READ: Dismantling of logging blockages in Gua Musang lawful - Forestry Department

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"We will remove the blockade because this (move) is not stem from ill intention, we only did this to claim our rights to the forest and ancestral land, which we have lived on for generations," said Jamil Gabong, an Orang Asli.

Fifty-four Orang Asli were arrested by police on November 29 for setting up logging blockades at the Balah and Perias forest reserves, after they refused to budge from the areas during an operation conducted by the state Forestry Department.

They were released after their statement were taken.