IPOH: The Orang Asli in Perak are hoping the state authorities will formally declare their proper to their “tanah adat” or ancestral land, says Gabungan Balei Sengik Sen’oi consultant Dahil Yok Chopil.
He stated that there was no response from the Perak authorities regardless that 5 memorandums have been despatched to the state authorities on this problem since 2003, together with the newest which was despatched to Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad on Thursday (Nov 25).
“It’s our hope that Saarani will take note of this matter and declare the ancestral land in response to the map we offered,” he advised reporters on the State Meeting constructing right here after submitting the memorandum.
In 2019, former Perak mentri besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu stated that there isn’t a such factor as “tanah adat” within the state and that the time period was not recognised within the state structure.
Faizal added that it will be worrisome if all races began to make claims wanting “tanah adat”.
Dahil, who can also be the Tok Batin or village head from Kampung Chang Sungai Gepai close to Bidor stated most of the Orang Asli’s ancestral lands have been seized from them.
“We now have been utilizing the land for practically 13 generations. We now have lived there with our household whereas planting our crops, however usually, out of nowhere, there will probably be individuals telling us that the land doesn’t belong to us,” stated Dahil.
“We’re Malaysians, born and bred right here. So why are we being handled this manner? All we needed is to have our ancestral land rightfully to ourselves,” he added.
Dahil stated that with out declaring the land as ancestral land, the Orang Asli neighborhood within the state wouldn’t be capable to be progressive.
“How can we be progressive when every little thing now we have is being taken away? We planted the crops, we stayed there for generations. We wish the state authorities to declare our rights,” he stated.
