Thursday, April 2, 2015
Malaysia's indigenous hit hard by deforestationThe clear-cutting of forests is thought to
have played a role in Malaysia's worst
flooding in decades.
Kuala Wok, Malaysia - High up in the remote
mountain jungles of Malaysia's eastern state of Kelantan, massive
deforestation and the
country's worst flood in decades have left indigenous tribes reeling.
country's worst flood in decades have left indigenous tribes reeling.
In the village of Kuala Wok, the Temiar people's Sewang ceremony
is held to worship and seek guidance from the spirits and nature, and
forms an important part of their religion and culture.
is held to worship and seek guidance from the spirits and nature, and
forms an important part of their religion and culture.
During the colourful ceremony the women beat bamboo instruments
in rhythm, while the village head leads a group of men through chants,
prayers and dances that increase in intensity over several hours. Many
experience violent convulsions during the dance, which they attribute
to spirits possessing them.
in rhythm, while the village head leads a group of men through chants,
prayers and dances that increase in intensity over several hours. Many
experience violent convulsions during the dance, which they attribute
to spirits possessing them.
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| Temiar people hold a Sewang ceremony to seek guidance from the spirits and nature [Jarni Blakkarly/Al Jazeera] |
The Temiar place a high value on respecting the environment and its
destruction by outsiders is threatening their way of life.
destruction by outsiders is threatening their way of life.
The logging businesses have long had a presence in the region's expansive
jungles, but the rate of deforestation has increased in the past decade as
private companies clear-cut the forests.
jungles, but the rate of deforestation has increased in the past decade as
private companies clear-cut the forests.
Ussain Bin Anjang told Al Jazeera that this deforestation was making
indigenous communities' traditional way of life difficult to maintain.
indigenous communities' traditional way of life difficult to maintain.
"They are logging close to the water source, so in dry season the river
dries up. There is much less water than before. Sometimes it is
contaminated and people get sick. We can't hunt, and it's very difficult
to get our traditional medicine or gather food from the forest," he said.
dries up. There is much less water than before. Sometimes it is
contaminated and people get sick. We can't hunt, and it's very difficult
to get our traditional medicine or gather food from the forest," he said.
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| Rivers run dry and food sources are threatened as a result of persistent logging, threatening the way of life for the indigenous people living in Malaysia's forests [Jarni Blakkarly/Al Jazeera] |
Indigenous peoples' claims of ownership to their land are rarely
acknowledged by the Malaysian government when it decides to grant
logging concessions to private companies.
acknowledged by the Malaysian government when it decides to grant
logging concessions to private companies.
Clearing the forests
From a vantage point high up in the mountains, the scale of the destruction
is striking. Bald hills stretch as far as the eye can see.
is striking. Bald hills stretch as far as the eye can see.
According to a 2012 study by the University of Maryland using Google Maps
data,Malaysia has one of the highest rates of deforestation in the world.
Most of the land is cleared for palm oil or rubber plantations, which have
played a major role in Malaysia's economic growth. After decades of rapid
development, the country is now one of the richest in the region.
data,Malaysia has one of the highest rates of deforestation in the world.
Most of the land is cleared for palm oil or rubber plantations, which have
played a major role in Malaysia's economic growth. After decades of rapid
development, the country is now one of the richest in the region.
While those in Kuala Wok have been told by local contractors that 3,000
hectares of land will be left to them after the logging, no formal contract has
been signed - and already, the entire area surrounding the villages has been
cleared.
hectares of land will be left to them after the logging, no formal contract has
been signed - and already, the entire area surrounding the villages has been
cleared.
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| Malaysia has one of the highest rates of deforestation in the world with most of the forests being cleared for palm oil or rubber plantations [Jarni Blakkarly/Al Jazeera] |
The same University of Maryland study estimated that the state of
Kelantan lost around 15 percent of its natural forest between 2001
and 2012.
Kelantan lost around 15 percent of its natural forest between 2001
and 2012.
According to the CIA World Factbook almost 12 percent of Malaysia's
population belongs to one of dozens of indigenous ethnic groups, each
with their own individual language and culture. Most indigenous
Malaysians live in the states of Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo.
population belongs to one of dozens of indigenous ethnic groups, each
with their own individual language and culture. Most indigenous
Malaysians live in the states of Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo.
The term Orang Asli is used to refer to the various indigenous tribes
of peninsular Malaysia. The roughly 180,000 Orang Asli make up
less than one percent of the country's population.
of peninsular Malaysia. The roughly 180,000 Orang Asli make up
less than one percent of the country's population.
The Malaysian government have long sought to remove the
Orang Asli identity by categorising them as members of the dominant
Malay ethnic group. The government also promises basic infrastructure
projects such as housing, electricity and roads as an incentive for villages
to convert from their traditional animist beliefs to Islam, the dominant
religion in the country.
Orang Asli identity by categorising them as members of the dominant
Malay ethnic group. The government also promises basic infrastructure
projects such as housing, electricity and roads as an incentive for villages
to convert from their traditional animist beliefs to Islam, the dominant
religion in the country.
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The indigenous populations of Malaysia constitute only one percent of
the population and mainly live in the states of Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo. They complain that the government mainly ignores their rights to the land they inhabit [Jarni Blakkarly/Al Jazeera] |
'The government closes their eyes'
Youth indigenous leader Dendi, who only goes by one name, told Al Jazeera
that logging and plantations had destroyed many sites of sacred religious
importance and that local graves had been desecrated.
that logging and plantations had destroyed many sites of sacred religious
importance and that local graves had been desecrated.
Local indigenous customs require that the dead be buried along with their
possessions. Al Jazeera was shown areas where the remains of clothes and
other possessions could be seen after the earth was dug up for plantations.
possessions. Al Jazeera was shown areas where the remains of clothes and
other possessions could be seen after the earth was dug up for plantations.
"Sometimes the government close their eyes, close their ears. They don't
care about Orang Asli," Dendi told Al Jazeera.
care about Orang Asli," Dendi told Al Jazeera.
"When all the forest is gone, how will the small children know about the
stories? They won't know about how to use the forest to provide, how to
go hunting maybe next year or another year, when everything's destroyed,"
he said.
stories? They won't know about how to use the forest to provide, how to
go hunting maybe next year or another year, when everything's destroyed,"
he said.
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| The logging not only threatens the livelihood of the indigenous people, but also desecrates their past when the digging takes place at grave-sites [Jarni Blakkarly/Al Jazeera] |
Many environmental activists and some scientists believe deforestation
was a contributing factor to the size of the flooding that hit the region in
December last year, killing 23 people and forcing more than 200,000
from their homes. While flooding is an annual occurrence, December's
floods were the worst on record in Malaysia for 30 years.
was a contributing factor to the size of the flooding that hit the region in
December last year, killing 23 people and forcing more than 200,000
from their homes. While flooding is an annual occurrence, December's
floods were the worst on record in Malaysia for 30 years.
"If you don't respect the forest, this is what happens," Dendi told
Al Jazeera.
Al Jazeera.
Villages higher up in the mountains were cut off from the outside
world for a month due to landslides, but were spared the worst of the
flooding. Those living further down in the valley, however, were not
so lucky.
world for a month due to landslides, but were spared the worst of the
flooding. Those living further down in the valley, however, were not
so lucky.
Slow rebuilding effort
The Malaysian government has promised millions of dollars for
infrastructure repairs, housing and aid. However, more than two
months since the floods, there were few signs of reconstruction in
the Gua Musang region, one of the worst affected by the flooding,
when Al Jazeera visited in February.
infrastructure repairs, housing and aid. However, more than two
months since the floods, there were few signs of reconstruction in
the Gua Musang region, one of the worst affected by the flooding,
when Al Jazeera visited in February.
Whole families who lost houses in the floods can be seen huddled
together along the highway, either in makeshift camps of bamboo
and tarpaulins, provided by the Malaysian government, in tents from
international aid organisations such as Rotary, or donated by the
Chinese government.
together along the highway, either in makeshift camps of bamboo
and tarpaulins, provided by the Malaysian government, in tents from
international aid organisations such as Rotary, or donated by the
Chinese government.
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| The scale of deforestation has changed the consistency of the land causing landslides and flooding during the rainy season [Jarni Blakkarly/Al Jazeera] |
There is a lack of information on the ground, and villages don't
know when or even if their houses will be rebuilt. The fact that
many indigenous people do not own formal deeds to their land
may prove to be an obstacle to receiving compensation or financial
assistance to rebuild.
know when or even if their houses will be rebuilt. The fact that
many indigenous people do not own formal deeds to their land
may prove to be an obstacle to receiving compensation or financial
assistance to rebuild.
Mohamed Thajudeen bin Abdul Wahab, secretary of the National
Security Council, the government body that oversaw the response,
told Al Jazeera that the government's response and rescue operations
had kept casualty numbers low, despite many people not following
the instructions to evacuate before the floodwaters rose.
Security Council, the government body that oversaw the response,
told Al Jazeera that the government's response and rescue operations
had kept casualty numbers low, despite many people not following
the instructions to evacuate before the floodwaters rose.
"There has been no major issue in aid delivery. In fact, there was an
overabundance in supply of food sources. It is not true that people
didn't receive enough help," Thajudeen said.
overabundance in supply of food sources. It is not true that people
didn't receive enough help," Thajudeen said.
He explained that the Malaysian government would not rebuild houses
along riverbank areas due to the risk of future flooding, and that the
reconstruction of 400 houses was already under way, with the work to
be completed by June.
along riverbank areas due to the risk of future flooding, and that the
reconstruction of 400 houses was already under way, with the work to
be completed by June.
"Being poor, most of them are squatters and do not own land," said Thajudeen.
"They were squatting on land not belonging to them. As such again, the
government couldn't rebuild these houses. As land was a state matter, not a
federal matter, the federal government [has] had to wait for the state
government to identify suitable land for reconstruction of these houses."
"They were squatting on land not belonging to them. As such again, the
government couldn't rebuild these houses. As land was a state matter, not a
federal matter, the federal government [has] had to wait for the state
government to identify suitable land for reconstruction of these houses."
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| Many victims of the devastating floods still live in temporary shelters provided by aid organisations [Jarni Blakkarly/Al Jazeera] |
But Colin Nicholas from the Centre for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC),
a Malaysia-based non-governmental organisation that assists in legal
cases and advocates for Orang Asli rights, told Al Jazeera that the
government had essentially left NGOs to provide services to some
Orang Asli villages affected by the flooding.
a Malaysia-based non-governmental organisation that assists in legal
cases and advocates for Orang Asli rights, told Al Jazeera that the
government had essentially left NGOs to provide services to some
Orang Asli villages affected by the flooding.
COAC plans to build 28 houses, and has already begun construction in
the devastated Temiar village of Sintip.
the devastated Temiar village of Sintip.
Nicholas said that while the state of Kelantan was one of the worst for
indigenous land rights and deforestation, the same issues had affected
indigenous communities across the country for decades.
indigenous land rights and deforestation, the same issues had affected
indigenous communities across the country for decades.
First the Federal-state govt treated the indigenous
people in Kelantan
with contempt, now the PAS-led govt is even worse - treating them as
Hadi calls wandering tribe (derogatory term).
with contempt, now the PAS-led govt is even worse - treating them as
Hadi calls wandering tribe (derogatory term).
Such a ultra religious group treating the
real bumiputras of the land
with contempt. These people are literally displaced from their NCR
lands by Islamic godly leaders. Such a traversity of justice yet no
local NGO went to their aid.
with contempt. These people are literally displaced from their NCR
lands by Islamic godly leaders. Such a traversity of justice yet no
local NGO went to their aid.
