Explain How Orang Asli Land Leased To A Mining Firm Ngo Tells Perak Govt

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 Environmental NGO Peka says the Perak and federal authorities must return the land to the community and hold those responsible to account.
Peka president Rajesh Nagarajan said the Orang Asli development department must be held accountable for failing to protect the rights of the community.
PETALING JAYA: Environmental NGO Peka has demanded an explanation from the Perak government over the leasing of a piece of land in Bidor, believed to be Orang Asli ancestral land, to mining company Siong Emas Sdn Bhd.
Peka president Rajesh Nagarajan said the Perak and federal authorities should return the land to the Orang Asli community and hold those responsible to account.
“How was Siong Emas granted a 30-year lease and a subsequent extension of 44 years? What was the Orang Asli development department (Jakoa) doing?” he said in a statement.
He also said Jakoa must be held accountable for failing to protect the rights of the community.
The culprit in this issue is the government that has failed to protect the rights of the Orang Asli.
“A co-culprit is the Perak land office which has seen it fit to sign over land rightfully belonging to the Orang Asli to a private company,” Rajesh added.
Last week, the Orang Asli community in Kampung Chang Lama protested the alleged encroachment by the firm on their ancestral land after finding signboards in the Jejog area.
Village chief Dahil Yok Chopil said this violated the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as the consent of the Orang Asli was not obtained. He also urged Jakoa to revoke the company’s lease on the land in the area.
Dahil said the area is a sacred site to the community as it is where prayer ceremonies and rotational crop farming activities are held, Malaysiakini reported.
He said Siong Emas had been granted a 30-year lease until May 26, 2022, with a further extension until May 25, 2066.
Siong Emas, in response, accused the Orang Asli community as being the one encroaching on the company’s land.
According to Malaysiakini, Siong Emas managing director Tan Ee Tiam showed the news portal a copy of its title for the 2.832ha land – Lot 16225 in Batang Padang – used as a quarry site.
Tan also said he filed a police report in December last year after finding oil palm trees being planted on the property with no clue as to who had planted them. He also found a signboard displaying another person’s name and attributing ownership of the land to Jakoa.
FMT has reached out to the Perak government for comment. - FMT

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