After several weeks of working together to deliver flood relief aid to the affected communities in the Temenggor-Grik-Banun-Dala-Kemar areas in Upper Perak, the representatives from the three ethnic communities in about 30 villages decided to formalize their working relationship.
With the support of JOAS, the Indigenous Peoples Network of Malaysia, about 60 members of the Temiar, Jahai and Lanoh ethnic groups in the area got together on 15 February 2015 to share their situations and challenges. They gathered in Kampung Cenaweng on the upper reaches of the Perak River in Grik.
Moderated by Rahman Hassan, who led the flood relief effort from late December, we heard tales of woe from the various villages represented. There were issues with loggers, unsympathetic officials and big corporations as well as experiences of environmental degradation, land loss, broken promises and restrictions on their autonomy.
A 23-member Ulu Perak Action Committee was thus formed. The first task for them was to engage the Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA) the following week on various issues.
[Photos by Colin Nicholas, Koong Hui Yein & Puah Sze Ning.]
Note that the photos are in reverse sequence i.e. the first image shown is actually th elast in the album. We are working on fixing this bug.
CN-COAC | 23 February 2015