Kelantan Menteri Besar Ahmad Yakob said his government followed rules in dismantling the blockades and the action was according to court decisions.

“The government has given (the Orang Asli) enough time (to remove the blockades). The responsible parties have now taken action to open a way for even the Orang Asli themselves to pass.

“The Orang Asli themselves have met me and complained that they cannot sell their goods,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the launching of the International Da’Wah Institute Perkim.

The institute was launched by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Among those present were Chief Secretary to the Government Ismail Abu Bakar and Malaysian Islamic Welfare Association (Perkim) secretary-general Mohd Yusof Noor.

Last Monday, the Kelantan Forestry Department, backed by more than 200 staff of the department and other agencies, pulled down the barricades.

The blockades were mounted to stop trucks from passing through to carry out logging which the Orang Asli blamed for deforestation in the area.

“You see, we have given them land for agriculture and to stay,” said Ahmad.

He also said the state government was open to discussions with the federal government to resolve the issue.

“The negotiations have not yet started. We are discussing with Suhakam (Human Rights Commission) first.

“Our views have been well received by Suhakam,” he added.

The three blockades that were taken down were at Kampung Depak in Pos Tohoi, Kampung Cawas in Pos Bihai and Kampung Kuala Wok in Pos Pasik.

The Orang Asli community had put up the blockades to protest against logging and plantation operations on what they claimed was customary land.

The PAS-led Kelantan administration insisted the land belonged to the state and it had issued licences for logging activities.

Early this month, some 200 Orang Asli from the area met Mahathir in Putrajaya to seek federal intervention in their dispute with the Kelantan government.