The plan would involve the opening of a larger area that would cause the conflicts they are experiencing to worsen, said Murad Mat, 44, chairman of the Pos Brooke Orang Asli village development and safety committee.

He said the lives of the new generation of Orang Asli would be affected, Bernama reported.

“We are not rejecting the planned development but for now we disagree because the Orang Asli will be affected. There are no more ‘perfect areas’ and settlements for us to carry out our way of life, foraging for forest produce and planting,” he said.

“Moreover, the water resources in most areas in Tanah Rata Lojing will also become polluted. This is in addition to the risk of landslides and access to settlements being affected,” he said today.

Murad also expressed concern that the government’s plans would change the culture of the Orang Asli community in Gua Musang with the presence of foreign workers. He said many Orang Asli girls were already moving to live with these workers.

Kelantan Orang Asli chief penghulu Bidi Ronggeng strongly opposed any forest clearing that involved their settlements, orchards, burial grounds and water catchment areas.

“This government’s move will cause the Orang Asli settlements to continue shrinking. The land demarcation process involving this community has not been completed yet,” he said.

Galas state assemblyman Syahbuddin Hashim agreed and said there should be no compromise on environmentally sensitive areas, especially regarding the environment, wildlife conflicts, national park reserve land and water catchment areas.

He said the modifications would not only affect the people but can also lead to river pollution, water surge incidents, floods and so on.

“We are witnessing the consequences of opening new areas that disrupt the ecology and forest ecosystem balance. This is one of the causes of conflicts between humans and wildlife. So, I also oppose the plans and request the state government to reconsider the proposal,” he said.

In 2020, the Kelantan state government decided that permanent forest reserve areas, except for water sources or catchment areas, would no longer be classified as environmentally sensitive areas.

The implementation of the decision is still in the draft stage of amendments to development plans, with the state town and rural planning department conducting a publicity and public participation programme from Oct 11 to Nov 11.