Kuala Koh & Empangan Telom: Cautionary Tales for the Orang Asli if Pos Lanai isn't saved

Lives lost due to polluted water, forced displacement, and a government's complete and utter negligence; Pos Lanai is in danger- Pick your poison.

As we take a look at the plight that the Semai Orang Asli in Pos Lanai are facing, let’s take a look at what we could learn from recent history, with incidents in the past showing similar disregard by authorities towards Orang Asli communities, and how such greed for profit led to lives lost.

Kuala Koh - The death threat of mining encroachments

In May to June of 2019, 16 Bateq Orang Asli from Kampung Kuala Koh were found dead, with 83 others being treated. The leading hypothesis on the cause of death appeared to be pneumonia.

Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) found that there were toxic substances in the river, believed to be from a nearby illegal manganese mine (which was shut down in June 2019, only days after the initial deaths).

Although the media had ruled out harmful substances as the cause of death for the Orang Asli folk, the researchers stated that the level of pollution of the water could not be measured merely by pollutants in the water.

They said toxic minerals like cadmium, mercury and arsenic were usually present in low concentrations in water even if the river was polluted.

The Health Ministry held firm that the deaths were due to measles, as they said that heavy metal content in the water complied with water quality standards. To reiterate, pollutants found in water alone were not sufficient in determining the pollution level of the water.

Empangan Telom - A violation of indigenous rights to their home

Construction of a hydroelectric dam in Telom was approved in 2013. The Semai Orang Asli villagers there proceeded to take TNB to court in 2015, claiming that the dam would be built over their ancestral land in Pos Lanai. Sound familiar?

The 1,500 Semai-tribe orang asli who lived there depended on the land for drinking water, farming and fishing.

In 2012, the villagers were moved to a new village by the Department of Orang Asli Development (JKOA), on the assumption they would still have rights to the land.

Then in 2013, a sudden 180- TNB informed them about the dam project and told the villagers they would not be able to return to the land.

Their actions have deprived the Temiar Orang Asli of their native land and resources, and have caused widespread erosion, pollution, and irreparable damage to the ecology and landscape of Pos Simpor (in Gua Musang).

- Tommy Thomas, Attorney-General

Outraged, betrayed, this prompted the villagers to file a suit in 2015, where they claimed they were moved under fraudulent circumstances. After months of fierce protests by the Orang Asli, the project was finally cancelled on 3 October 2018, citing the high costs and its impact on the environment.

Save Pos Lanai

Just like Kuala Koh, a proposed mining project threatens to poison the river of Pos Lanai, the home and water source of the Semai Orang Asli.

Just like Empangan Telom, mining encroachments have come to put the Semai Orang Asli’s lives at risk with zero regard to their voices and tireless protests against such projects infringing into their home.

These repeated affairs aren’t a joke. They are not trivial, coincidental, or isolated.

Our government has demonstrated a pattern of forcing Orang Asli out of their homes without blinking- of silencing Orang Asli voices- of sacrificing Orang Asli lives in the name of profit.

The Semai Orang Asli’s lives are in danger. We must save Pos Lanai- by all means.