We want environmental laws to be implemented and enforced. We want the authority and relevant agencies to go after anyone and everyone who are cutting down trees in protected forest areas and such. Yet, sometimes, it might not be that simple.

That day, I visited an Orang Asli (indigenous people) village in Tapah, Perak with a group of awesome people whose aim is to educate the Malaysian public and create greater awareness about the Federal Constitution. Several topics were being brought up: orang asli rights as stipulated in the constitution, unfair land purchase, standing up against corporations or entities that violate their rights, exercising rights and being recognised as Malaysian citizens… … here, I’d like to elaborate on the issue of how the Forestry Act has caused the orang asli to feel restricted from using their tanah adat (indigenous land).

Malaysia is a multiracial and multicultural country; I myself, though a proud citizen of Malaysian, am of the Chinese race. As Malaysian citizens, none of us, regardless of race or religion, should be neglected. The orang asli are people who naturally exist in this country; they belong to this land.

I respect the Constitution, and respect the rights of orang asli over tanah adat. As the tanah adat could consist of forest areas, at times orang asli cut down some trees to use the land for farming as a form of small scale, self-sufficient economy. This is one of the very few sources of livelihood for them.

“Yet, if we cut down some of the trees for farming, the authority will fine us. We cannot afford to pay the fine, yet we have to maintain our livelihood.”

This predicament that they face is due to the Forestry Act, which aims to protect forest areas.

Initially, I felt caught in between advocating the orang asli rights and the Forestry Act. As a Malaysian who upholds the Constitution, I believe the orang asli should stand firm on the issue of their rights over tanah adat. But as an environment activist, shouldn’t I support the enforcement of the Forestry Act as well?

However, the bottom-line question is: Why aren’t strict laws being enforced when it comes to illegal logging and large scale deforestation? What about Samling Global*? What about the Rimbunan Hijau group**?

The ultimate aim of environmental laws is to serve humanitarian purposes, not otherwise, and to protect our rights to live in a beautiful and sustainable world.

*Norway divested itself of its Samling Global shares recently
**http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rimbunan_Hijau_Group

Photo credits to Loyar Burok