Jajaran Wawasan Enterprise had applied to log on Pos Balar land in Gua Musang.

“Basically, the court has established that the Orang Asli are in actual possession of the land. Not the loggers.

“This means that the Orang Asli have the right to stop loggers from operating on their land,” said lawyer Siti Kasim, who represented the Orang Asli in Gua Musang.

Siti lauded the court decision today, calling it a big victory for the Orang Asli in the state.

She said the ruling also meant that the Orang Asli’s ownership of the land overrode the licence given to loggers.

“The licence gives loggers the right to cut down trees but the Orang Asli don’t need a licence to occupy the land.

“By virtue, the Orang Asli own the land because they have been living there before the laws were enacted.”

Siti said the victory today set a precedent for other cases of Orang Asli land disputes in the state.

“This is a very good decision because it has massive implications on a lot of Orang Asli settlements.”

She said she planned to file similar suits regarding land disputes in Gua Musang.

On separate occasions last year, the Orang Asli community in Pos Tohoi and Pos Gob had set up blockades to put a stop to rampant logging on the land they occupied.

However, the blockades were dismantled by the forestry department and the Orang Asli and several activists were arrested.