Thousands of Orang Asli descend on Zahid's office, demand government stop demolitions and respect 'tanah adat'

Thousands of Orang Asli gathered outside the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development in Putrajaya, more than a month after authorities in Pahang demolished homes inhabited for generations by the Jakun indigenous community to make way for a plantation company which obtained a least of the land from the state government.

The protest was organised by vocal environmental pressure group Association for the Protection of National Heritage, or Peka, together with Orang Asli rights advocates Coalition of Orang Asli NGOs of Peninsular Malaysia and the local chapter of Greenpeace.

Protesters held banners and placards condemning the May 4 demolition of about 20 houses in Pekan, Pahang, saying it was part of a pattern in which the government has violated their rights to customary land, or tanah adat.

"Stop! Stop oppressing us. Stop, stop the logging! Stop, stop the mining! Stop, stop the plantation," they shouted outside the ministry, which is led by Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Lawyer and Peka president Rajesh Nagarajan said the government must immediately ensure lands inhabited by the Orang Asli community are off limits to private companies.

"The state government took Orang Asli land and gave it to developers. We want the government to stop this despicable act. Do not give Orang Asli land to developers."

Rajesh slammed the Department of Orang Asli Development (Jakoa), and urged Zahid to remove its director-general.

"Jakoa does not care about their welfare. We demand the director-general of Jakoa resign immediately," he said.

Protesters later urged Zahid to personally receive their memorandum, which among other demands called for the government to recognise the status of "tanah adat" and for a complete halt to the demolition of Orang Asli villages nationwide.

They also refused to meet Zahid's representative, saying they would not budge until the deputy prime minister met them in person.

Zahid later sent his special officer to collect the memorandum, only to be met by jeers and boos from the crowd, who continued to insist he be present.

Organisers later said they have demanded a consultative session with the ministry, adding that a larger protest would be held if it did not take place.

Representatives from 19 Orang Asli ethnic groups from various states took turns to address the crowd.

One of them, whose house in Pekan was among those demolished on May 4, said enforcement officers entered while villagers were out for their daily chores.

"At that time, we were going about our usual daily life. Some of us were hunting in the forest, some were sending their children to school."

He said the demolition was carried out on behalf of SRS Makmur Sdn Bhd.

"Yet we were given no notice, no fair hearing. Where was our voice in the decision to demolish our own homes?"

Others warned the government to take the Orang Asli's demands seriously.

"On behalf of the Orang Asli, I do not want the Orang Asli in Peninsular Malaysia to be used for stupid politics. To the ministers who took our customary land rights, return them to the Orang Asli.

"We did not take land illegally, it is our own land which belonged to the Orang Asli," said a spokesman from the Orang Asli Villages Network of Peninsular Malaysia (JKOASM).

"We did not come from nowhere, and we will not go anywhere. Do not use the police to threaten villagers.

"We want the Malaysian government to apologise to the Orang Asli for its mistakes. There are still dirt roads in Orang Asli villages, while in other villages, there are tarred roads," he said.