The Orang Asli community living on the fringe of Kuala Langat North Forest Reserve (KLNFR) only found out about the degazettement on Monday (Aug 30) although it was finalised in May.

Samsul Anak Senin, Kg Busut Baru Village Chief, said the community has always stood against the degazettement since its initial proposal by the Selangor government.

But the decision settled by the state had left the community shocked, sad and disappointed.

The Chief added, “We, the Orang Asli, have protested the degazettement since the start. We have announced our objection to both the state government as well as the media, and we will continue objecting.”

Hee Loy Sian, the Selangor Tourism, Environment, And Green Technology Exco stated that KLNFR was already degazetted in May during a state assembly. But after backlash from the decision, 991ha forest degazette was decreased to 536ha.

Samsul claimed that no information was relayed to the community and they were left in the dark. He accuses the government of marginalising the Orang Asli community as to how the events had unfolded.

Samsul said, he feels that the government does not see the value of the forest besides in terms of money.

He added, “We need the forest as it is part of our culture, and is our home and where we go to find resources and food. The land, trees, and animals there are valuable to us.”

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE