The application had been submitted by 14 defendants consisting of the Kelantan state government, department of the director-general of lands and mines (JKPTG) of Kelantan, Orang Asli development department (Jakoa), and various private companies.

The suit was filed by a group of Orang Asli from Kampung Kelaik, who believed their customary land had been encroached on.

Lawyer Sachpreetraj Singh Sohanpal, who is representing the Orang Asli, said judicial commissioner Abazafree Mohd Abbas dismissed the application, allowing the suit to go to trial.

“The Orang Asli are claiming their native customary land has been taken over by private companies for various commercial activities, including mining and planting of palm oil trees.

“The Kelantan government has also failed to recognise that the Orang Asli have a prior right and ancestral claim to the land,” Sachpreetraj told FMT.

The case will now proceed to trial but a date has yet to be set. The Orang Asli will be represented by Sachpreetraj and Arun Ganesh Boopalan.

Gua Musang was recently in the news over various land disputes and controversies. Allegations of logging in the Nenggiri permanent forest reserve and the socio-environmental implications of a RM5 billion hydroelectric power plant project were among the issues raised.