JPK denies burning Orang Asli huts at logging blockades

The Kelantan Forestry Department (JPNK) denied allegations of burning illegal huts built by the Orang Asli community at blockades set up at the logging route in the Balah Permanent Forest Reserve in an operation at Gua Musang Monday.

However, its director, Datuk Zahari Ibrahim said that the agency's enforcement team had carried out an operation demolishing illegal huts this morning.

Zahari denied accusations that they burnt the huts as they pleased, adding that based on the report filed by the operation officer, the fire was caused by embers left behind by a group of Orang Asli in a newly-built hut at the blockade area.

"The Orang Asli thought that the embers had been fully extinguished," he said in a statement Monday.

According to Zahari, during the operation, there were only four Orang Asli housed in the newly built hut and as soon as the JPNK enforcement team arrived at the scene, the group of Orang Asli was instructed to leave the illegal settlement.

He added in the five-hour operation from 9am Monday, which involved three JPNK teams as well as the Gua Musang Forestry Office, new blockades erected in the area were also demolished.

- BERNAMA