Jakoa in talks with orang asli groups over logging blockade

GUA MUSANG: The Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) is trying to end the blockade by over 200 orang asli who are protesting logging activities in Balah permanent forest reserve, here.
Its director-general, Mohd Jamalludin Kasbi said Jakoa had the first meeting with related government agencies this evening.
"I believe the issue can be resolved via talks and without any untoward incidents," he said after the first meeting at Wisma Persekutuan, here today.
The agencies include the police, Kelantan Forestry Department, Gua Musang Land Office and the Kelantan Health Department.
Earlier, Jakoa met with the orang asli groups.
Since Sept 26, over 200 orang asli gathered at Kampung Petei, Pos Bering, to stop lorries from entering the area, causing a dispute with the loggers.
The orang asli want logging activities to end claiming that they destroy the water catchment area and thus destroy their source of water supply.
Following the blockade, the Kelantan state government today suspended all logging activities in the area.
Mohd Jamalludin said all the parties involved understood the situation and would resolve the issue via talks with the orang asli community.
He also welcomed the Kelantan state government's decision to suspend all logging activities in the area.
"It will defuse the situation so that talks with the orang asli groups can be done in harmony and without any interruption." — Bernama