He said the move was part of a new economic project for the Orang Asli, that includes a plan to cultivate high-quality durian trees in the designated area that would be jointly developed by state-owned and private companies.

“The direct benefits to be obtained by the Orang Asli in this project are dividends or profits from the partnership.

“This project will benefit the residents of the village, both in economic terms and security of settlement,” he said in a statement posted on his official Facebook page today.

Currently, Wan Rosdy said there are 1,940 Orang Asli from 352 families living in the area, planting crops such as oil palm and rubber.

The project was jointly developed by the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda), with the involvement of the Orang Asli community, who in turn received dividends for their crops.