How will Pahang balance company rights with Orang Asli ancestral land claims?

Question

Accepted Answer

Pahang State Government to Review Assistance for Orang Asli Land Disputes in Kampung Sungai Cot

The Pahang state government will request relevant agencies to review their assistance in resolving land disputes involving the Orang Asli community in Kampung Sungai Cot, Maran. This issue will be managed prudently and lawfully through a consultative process to achieve a mutually beneficial outcome. The government aims to clarify the situation, stating that the land dispute is not as portrayed by some parties, acknowledging that 12 Orang Asli individuals were cultivating the land based on a claim submitted to the Department of Orang Asli Development (Jakoa), while the same land was also approved for a company in 2015.
Administrative Review and Legal Framework

Pahang authorities, including Jakoa, the Pahang Land and Mines Office (PTG), and the Land and District Office, are tasked with reviewing the assistance provided for the land dispute in Kampung Sungai Cot. This review will be conducted within the established legal framework, with a commitment to a consultative approach to find the most equitable solution. The state government clarified that allegations surrounding the dispute do not fully represent the situation on the ground.
Overlapping Claims and Verification Process

The land in question was approved for a company via the 32nd State Executive Council (MMK) decision on November 4, 2015, creating an overlap with the claims of 12 Orang Asli individuals who were cultivating the land based on a written claim to Jakoa. Jakoa has engaged in discussions with Orang Asli representatives to address these overlapping claims. Initial findings from these discussions indicate that only six individuals are actively pursuing claims through Jakoa. While claimants asserted the land as ancestral territory, relevant authorities could not verify these claims based on existing records and factual evidence.
Broader Context of Orang Asli Land Rights in Pahang

Pahang currently comprises 264 Orang Asli villages with more than 90,000 registered residents. To formalise land rights, 30 villages have been gazetted under provisions of the Orang Asli Act 1954 and the National Land Code. Furthermore, the state government has approved land ownership for the Orang Asli community across 16 villages, utilising Section 76 of the National Land Code. The process for further land gazettement is ongoing, with 75 applications under review, including 31 ready for MMK consideration and 44 addressing land overlap issues. An additional 143 applications are in the initial measurement phase by Jakoa.

Reading history

Hide →

This history is cleared when the page is closed.

How will Pahang balance company rights with Orang Asli ancestral land claims?

Loading

Was this article helpful?

Helpful

Not helpful

Report an issue

2

0

0

Share with friends