Sungai Bil Orang Asli Distraught After Tnb Clears Crops Rubber Trees

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At least 20 Orang Asli in Kampung Sungai Bil in Behrang, Perak, lost their source of income since January after Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) allegedly cleared their crops spanning across approximately 12ha of their ancestral land
The land is near the transmission line but the villagers claimed that their crops and rubber trees were outside of the boundary area
A villager, known as Jussa, told Malaysiakini that as the breadwinner for his family, he has had sleepless nights over the loss of income. Prior to this, he had fruits and vegetable crops, and about 50 rubber trees
"I have had no steady income since January. How am I going to feed my wife and seven children
"Before they cleared the land, I earned up to RM400 a month from selling the produce and rubber," he said
Dollah Ali, 63, alleged that TNB did not consult the villagers before clearing the trees
"There were no meetings at all. They did not inform the villagers on their plan through any communication channels. They should have consulted us
"We did not trespass the (transmission line) border. We know our limit. Now it seems they cleared the land to extend the border
"This is our ancestor's land. We have a right to this land," he said
Not the first timeThis is not the first time the villagers had a land issue with TNB
In 2016, TNB had paid RM858,540 in compensation to about 20 villagers of Kampung Sungai Bil and Kampung Kuala Bil for taking over their 80.9ha land to build a transmission line
Prior to that, TNB had paid RM178,000 in compensation but raised the amount after appeals from the villagers
Orang Asli Development Cooperative founder Ramesh Arumugam Chettiar said he was dumbfounded that the same issue has recurred, affecting the livelihood of the Orang Asli
"The affected area is approximately 30 acres (12ha). The land has been cultivated for more than 50 years as it has been their customary land
"The Orang Asli know and they have been well advised on where they were permitted to plant their crops after the compensation in 2016
"After that, the Orang Asli had not trespassed into the transmission line boundary," he said. Ramesh further claimed that it was TNB who had encroached on the Orang Asli land
"They chopped off all the trees and crops outside the transmission line boundary
"I have been in touch with TNB since as early as February but nothing much was done," he added
Ramesh said that TNB had stationed their machinery on the site since August 2019 and the clearance allegedly started in November 2019 without any consultation with the villagers. It was completed in January
Letter on redelineation processMalaysiakini sighted a letter dated Aug 7, 2020, which was a reply to the village chief Tok Batin Yusof Duyong who inquired on the matter via the Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) in August 2019
It explained that TNB had conducted a redelineation process in March 2019 and had ensured that its contractor only chopped off trees in the transmission line area
It had conducted another redelineation in September 2019 during the Quality Control audit, citing that "the auditor found that there's no mistake of chopping trees outside the transmission line area."Ramesh reiterated his claim that no meeting was ever carried out between TNB and the villagers
TNB: There was a meetingHowever, in its response to Malaysiakini, TNB claimed that there were several discussions held among stakeholders
"For information, the Sungai Bil Orang Asli village is located near the 500kV transmission line project from Point C (Tapah) to Point X (Perak-Selangor border)
"The project was completed and fully functioning on Sept 20, 2019," it said in an email reply. Several discussion sessions with Jakoa, Land and District Office, and Orang Asli villagers were held before the project was initiated and when it was underway, TNB said. "The last meeting took place on Aug 5, 2019," it added.  TNB noted that it had replied Yusof's letter to inform that the redelineation process was conducted with the presence of Muallim Land and District Office, Muallim Jakoa representatives, and Orang Asli villagers
On claims that TNB did not entertain Ramesh's request for a meeting, it said that it would hold a meeting with him to explain the matter in the near future
I was not informed, says tok batinWhen contacted, Yusof dismissed TNB's claims that it had sought a meeting with the villagers
"Why did they redraw the borderline without informing me? They should have come and seen me as we don't want a problem like this to happen
"I don't allow (such an incident) to happen without my permission. If possible, I want a meeting with TNB," he said. - Mkini

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