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Committees Committee On Orang Asli Rights Visit to the Kaum Batek Community at Kuala Koh, Kelantan (24 Sept 2011)
Committees Committee On Orang Asli Rights Visit to the Kaum Batek Community at Kuala Koh, Kelantan (24 Sept 2011) 
| Visit to the Kaum Batek Community at Kuala Koh, Kelantan (24 Sept 2011) |
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| Monday, 17 October 2011 02:51pm | |
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Contributed by Seira Sacha bt Abu Bakar, with photos by Alison Murugesu, Members, Bar Council Committee on Orang Asli Rights  On 24 Sept 2011 (Saturday), members of the Bar Council Committee on Orang Asli Rights (“COAR”) embarked on a trip to visit the Kaum Batek community at Kuala Koh in Gua Musang, Kelantan. The objective of the trip was to create awareness of Orang Asli rights, connect with the villagers and gain a better understanding of the legal issues faced by them. The group, which included some guests of COAR, comprised Adrian Ghani, Alison Murugesu, Cherian K C Kuruvila, Chung Yi Fan, Dr Colin Nicholas, Fong Lee Wee, Keiisha Anne-Pillai, Seira Sacha bt Abu Bakar, Shafie, Siti Zabedah Kasim, Steven Thiru and Yusri. The trip from Kuala Lumpur to Gua Musang took approximately five hours, followed by a further 40 minutes from Gua Musang to the interior of Kuala Koh.
 The Kaum Batek is also known as “forest people”, and foraging the forest is their way of life. They are semi-nomadic and live in small groups. They move from one area to another to harvest crops like tapioca, in addition to gathering forest products such as kayu gaharu, a fragrant tree species that can be used for incense and perfume. The Kaum Batek members maintain themselves by hunting and gathering, and trading forest products. They consume the natural resources around them by picking an area to settle in and gathering from their surroundings.  At the village, apart from several huts, were two blocks of concrete buildings. The structure of the huts was simple: each comprised a space of a single room for an Orang Asli family. However, most of them were empty, bare of furniture and poorly maintained. The group was told that these huts were supposed to be equipped with electricity and water, but none had been provided. There were also several water tanks built within the vicinity, giving the impression that water supply was available, but a closer inspection revealed that the structures were incomplete and not connected to the buildings.  The visitors were informed that most of the community’s children did not attend school; they had either dropped out or had never been to school before. Even when they did, claims of abuse and rape against the Orang Asli children – which were allegedly covered up by the school and the police – had arisen. Logistical difficulty was also another reason why the children could not attend school. In terms of their health, although there were no signs of any serious diseases, most of the children and some of the adults were observed to have scaly skin on their arms and legs.  During the consultation with the community, the group discussed the Kaum Batek’s problems and the issue regarding land encroachment by logging companies. Much of the forest area inhabited by the Kaum Batek had been encroached into and logged by logging companies. Steven Thiru explained that the Orang Asli had rights and they had to be brave to assert them. He advised the community members to lodge a complaint with the Department of Orang Asli Affairs if they were unhappy with any issue. He also pointed out that if the community wanted legal advice, it could approach COAR, which would do what it could for them. The COAR team and guests spent several hours mingling with the community, which provided an excellent opportunity for them to understand the Kaum Batek’s culture. As the team was about to leave, two of the community’s hunters returned to the village. They had been out in the jungle since 7:00 am that day. They were asked how the hunting and gathering had gone, and one of them replied that there had not been much to forage in the jungle, as was evident by the very few fishes on the rod he carried. When asked if he had managed to find any kayu gaharu, he replied in the negative.  Today, much of the Kaum Batek’s jungle homeland has been destroyed by rampant logging activities. There is a need to address serious issues such as land encroachment, depletion of natural resources, and the standards of, and access to, medical care and education. Amongst the potential problems that the Kaum Batek will face in the future include the lack of virgin forest to sustain their hunting and gathering way of life.  The Kaum Batek is yet another unique Malaysian Orang Asli community. It is a pity that the members have been marginalised and ignored. Unless its concerns are addressed and its way of life is preserved and protected, the Kaum Batek will end up as a footnote in the history of our country – a crying shame indeed.  |
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