K'tan Orang Asli slam MB over 'ignorant' claim on ancestral land
Published: Apr 28, 2025 8:58 AM
Updated: 12:53 PM
Summary
- Indigenous rights group Kelantan Orang Asli Village Network (JKOAK) says Nassuruddin Daud’s remark that no ancestral land exists in Kelantan is irresponsible and misleading.
- JKOAK says there is a lack of political will on the part of both the state and federal governments to resolve issue.
Kelantan Menteri Besar Nassuruddin Daud has come under fire for claiming that there is no ancestral land in the state.
According to the indigenous rights group Kelantan Orang Asli Village Network (JKOAK), his statement at the state legislative sitting on April 23 was “ignorant, irresponsible, misleading, not based on actual facts”.
JKOAK chairperson Mustafa Along also claimed that it was an attempt to cover up the truth.
“The statement clearly, openly, and evidently contradicts the court findings in land cases involving indigenous peoples. These cases are not limited to other states (such as Perak, Pahang, Selangor, and Johor) but also involve the state of Kelantan.
“For your information, in Kelantan, there are two court cases involving indigenous land rights: the Pos Belatim case, which took place in 2017, and the Pos Balar.
“The findings in these cases have clearly, openly, and evidently affirmed that the indigenous peoples have rights to their lands,” he added in a statement.
Contempt of court
Based on this, Mustafa said the menteri besar’s statement can be construed as contempt of court.
Kelantan MB Nassuruddin Daud
He claimed such statements arise from the government’s reluctance, whether at the state or federal level, to recognise the rights of indigenous peoples, even though the courts have ruled otherwise.
“The lack of political will on the part of both the state and federal governments has caused this issue to continue unresolved,” he emphasised.
JKOAK urged the government, at both the state and federal levels, to take appropriate action to promote and protect the rights of the Orang Asli as enshrined in the Federal Constitution and affirmed by the court decisions.
“We call for amendments to laws related to land rights, including incorporating the term ‘Customary Land’ into relevant legislations.
“This effort must be urgently undertaken to protect the interests and rights of the Orang Asli, who are increasingly oppressed by the indifference of the involved parties,” he added.
He claimed such statements arise from the government’s reluctance, whether at the state or federal level, to recognise the rights of indigenous peoples, even though the courts have ruled otherwise.
“The lack of political will on the part of both the state and federal governments has caused this issue to continue unresolved,” he emphasised.
JKOAK urged the government, at both the state and federal levels, to take appropriate action to promote and protect the rights of the Orang Asli as enshrined in the Federal Constitution and affirmed by the court decisions.
“We call for amendments to laws related to land rights, including incorporating the term ‘Customary Land’ into relevant legislations.
“This effort must be urgently undertaken to protect the interests and rights of the Orang Asli, who are increasingly oppressed by the indifference of the involved parties,” he added.
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