The seven – Omar Rani, Rani Jinal, Rosman Rani, Lina Lehoi, Sihami Suhin, Maarof Abdullah and Sani Kotiz – filed the lawsuit in 2022.

They also named the environment department, and the Orang Asli development department as defendants in a suit brought over claims of trespass to land and a failure on the part of the authorities to protect their customary rights.

The group had contended that they were in the dark about a decision made by the state government in 2017 to alienate 8,498ha (21,000 acres) to YP Olio for an oil palm plantation.

They said they only learned about the decision when bulldozers and other machinery were brought into their village to clear the forest.

The Temoq villagers had wanted the court to annul the government’s decision to alienate their land to YP Olio and sought a declaration affirming their customary rights to the native land.

Yesterday, a consent judgment between the villagers and YP Olio was recorded in the High Court before Justice Radzi Harun.

Under the terms of the resolution reached, the company agreed to allocate a total of 728.5ha (1,800 acres) to the Temoq villagers. It also agreed to allow the villagers to pass through parts of their land when travelling to or from their village.

YP Olio also undertook not to conduct any work on the land alienated to the Temoq villagers and agreed to assist them in efforts to have the land gazetted as their native land.

In exchange, the villagers agreed to have their claims against the federal and state governments struck out.

The villagers were represented by lawyers New Sin Yew and Surendra Ananth, while Ragunath Kesavan appeared for YP Olio.