Acting on complaints received from the villagers of Pos Tenau, Ulu Slim, the Chairperson of Bar Council Legal Aid Centre and Human Rights Sub Committee of Perak, Cik Dara Waheda bt Mohd Rufin and its Executive Officer M. Gokoolaram Naidu conducted a field trip on 5.4.08 to look into the plight of the Semai tribe living there.
An illegal man-made fish pond at an Orang Asli settlement in Pos Tenau was asked to cease its operations by Bar Council Legal Aid Centre and Human Rights Sub-Committee of Perak. Mr Augustine Anthony, Head Of Orang Asli Affairs, Bar Council Human Rights Committee, questioned the actions of Jabatan Hal Ehwal Orang Asli (JHEOA) in allowing the illegal pond to be dug without any permission or approval by the Perak State Government in a meeting with JHEOA officials in Pos Tenau on 15th Mei 2008.
Acting on complaints received from the villagers of Pos Tenau, Ulu Slim, the Chairperson of Bar Council Legal Aid Centre and Human Rights Sub Committee of Perak, Cik Dara Waheda bt Mohd Rufin and its Executive Officer M. Gokoolaram Naidu conducted a field trip on 5.4.08 to look into the plight of the Semai tribe living there. Pos Tenau, situated at the foot of the Main Range, is approximately 40 km from Slim River and merely accessible via four-wheel- drives.
When met with their Tok Batin (Village head), Encik Sentor a\k Kemen, he informed that JHEOA had authorised Risda to develop their land into a rubber estate and to provide job opportunities for them. However, Risda had in turn sub-contracted the whole project to another independent contractor who has been carrying out his activities much to the dissatisfaction of the villagers.
Among the many issues raised, the most imposing issue was that the said contractor had built a fish pond for his personal use on an elevated ground smack at the back of one of the houses.
According to the villagers the pond looked quite deep and they feared for the worst if the bund gives way during the rainy season and cause property damage or even deaths. On inspection, the pond which measures about 80’ (L) X 30” (W) had no solid perimeter fencing around it that may prevent children from drowning. The only security feature was a flimsy fencing made out of tree branches with large gapping intervals where children can easily enter.
Subsequently, letters depicting the Orang Asli complaints were sent to YB Sivanesan a\l Achalingam, who heads State Health, Environment and Human Resources and copies of the letter sent to the Perak Menteri Besar, JHOEA, and ADUN Behrang. Swift actions from the Menteri Besar and Sivanesan saw the JHOEA calling for a meeting where the crux of the matter, ie. the fish pond matter was amicably resolved.
During the meeting attended by officials from JHEOA headed by En. Hj Akram Chragdin (Ketua Unit Ekonomi JHEOA Perak and Kedah), Officials from Risda and representative of Contractor, Haji Akram gave his undertaking that the illegal pond will be ordered to shut down immediately.
M. Gokoolaram Naidu
Executive Officer
Perak Legal Aid Centre and Human Rights Sub-committee