Orang Asli chiefs pledge ‘full support’ for Kuala Langat forest degazettement

KUALA LUMPUR – There is a spanner in the works in efforts to maintain the Kuala Langat North Forest Reserve’s (KLNFR) protected status, and it may come as a surprise to most.

The obstacle seems to be the Orang Asli, whose very welfare is part of the narrative that KLNFR defenders are using to save the forest reserve from degazettement.

Seven of the eight Orang Asli villages in Kuala Langat Utara have officially relayed their approval of the degazettement to Selangor’s Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, the menteri besar and the relevant authorities.

Documents sighted by The Vibes showed that the seven tok batin, or village chiefs, conveyed their support 12 days before a September 29 town hall to hear public opinion on and objections to the proposed degazettement.

The village chiefs pledged their “full support” for the move in a letter to the sultan dated September 18, emphasising that their backing is sincere and devoid of undue influence.

“We understand that the state government’s plan to degazette KLNFR is for the betterment and interest of all parties, and we promise that we will not object to it, for the sake of the state’s prosperity,” said the letter, written by Kg Pulau Kempas chief Raman Pahat.

It also highlighted the village chiefs’ struggle to gazette the district’s Orang Asli settlements as permanent villages.

“We would like to take this opportunity to seek consent from Your Highness and the state government to help our efforts to gazette the Orang Asli settlements in Kuala Langat.”

The other signatories of the letter are Bayet Pipi (Kg Orang Asli Bukit Cheeding), Kelat Budin (Taman Desa Kemandol), Katun Kechit (Kg Orang Asli Bukit Kechil), Amir Dingak (Kg Orang Asli Bukit Serdang), Soeb Miah (Kg Orang Asli Bukit Tadom) and Kama Kadir (Kg Orang Asli Bukit Perah).

The letter was CC-ed to Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, environment exco Hee Loy Sian, the state secretary, the state Forestry Department director, and Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) director-general Juli Edo.

Opponents of the degazettement have said proceeding with the plan will result in more encroachment on the forest, which is a source of livelihood for indigenous peoples.

Village chiefs in a bind

Kg Busut Baru is now the sole Orang Asli village to object to the degazettement.

“We love the forest,” said Raman when contacted by The Vibes.

“But, I am also worried about the status of our villages. How can I protect the forest when I cannot even protect my village from uncertainty?”

Some of the Orang Asli villages in the district that are not gazetted are Kg Pulau Kempas, Kg Orang Asli Bukit Cheeding and Kg Orang Asli Bukit Kechil, he said.

Once gazetted, villages get access to paved roads, and water and electricity infrastructure, among other basic needs.

In Malaysia, matters concerning the Orang Asli are outlined in the Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954, and those regarding their villages are stated in Section 6(1) of the act: “The State Authority may, by notification in the Gazette, declare any area predominantly or exclusively inhabited by aborigines, which has not been declared an aboriginal reserve under Section 7, to be an aboriginal area, and may declare the area to be divided into one or more aboriginal cantons.”

While the responsibility lies with state authorities, federal agency Jakoa usually assists the Orang Asli in gazetting their settlements, as was the case with Kg Bukit Biru in Pahang.

Royal firm no longer in the picture

KLNFR is one of the few peat swamp forests left in Selangor, and has, since last year, been bogged down after being earmarked for a massive mixed-development project, which requires the area to be degazetted.

The known companies vying for the project tender – which would see all 931ha of KLNFR being razed – were the state-owned Menteri Besar Selangor (Incorporated) and Titian Jutaria Sdn Bhd (TJSB).

The Vibes first highlighted TJSB’s involvement on October 2. However, a check with the Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM) showed that the firm was in the midst of a dissolution on June 27, effectively voiding its participation in the tender.

CCM’s notice to strike TJSB off the register was gazetted on September 25, four days before the town hall on the proposed degazettement.

“In fact, the company was to be dissolved in March, but then, the movement control order was enforced and CCM’s office was closed, hence, the slight delay,” said a source.

TJSB’s two directors were Raja Muda Tengku Amir Shah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah and Syed Budriz Putra Jamalullail, the son and nephew, respectively, of Sultan Sharafuddin.

The Vibes is made to understand that the sultan was not pleased that one of his companies may be involved in a project that could have negative environmental and social implications. – The Vibes November 16, 2020