SHAH ALAM, May 28 — The Selangor government will expedite land gazettement for Orang Asli Villages (KOAs) in Gombak to ensure the community’s rights and interests, said state executive councillor for Orang Asli and minority affairs Papparaidu Veraman.
After chairing a meeting on the matter on Monday, he said that while Gombak has eight KOAs, only the one in Hulu Kuang has been gazetted so far under Section 7 of the Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954.
He explained that the remaining seven villages are KOA Hulu Kemensah, KOA Batu 12, KOA Sungai Relang, KOA Hulu Batu, KOA Batu 16, KOA Bukit Lagong, and KOA Sungai Buloh.
“The Gombak Orang Asli land gazettement meeting also focused on the current progress of the land gazettement process, issues and challenges faced, including land status, measurement processes, and overlapping area issues.
“Among them involves KOA Hulu Kemensah, which faces overlapping issues with a wildlife reserve area that requires further review and coordination between relevant agencies,” he said in a Facebook post.
Papparaidu said that the meeting was attended by representatives from the Gombak District and Land Office, Selangor Town and Country Planning Department (PLANMalaysia), Selangor Land and Mines Office (PTGS), State Economic Planning Unit (UPEN), and Orang Asli Development Department (JAKOA).
He added that a follow-up meeting would be held in the next two months to review updates and accelerate gazettement.
“This effort is important to ensure the gazettement process is resolved more effectively to guarantee the rights and interests of the Orang Asli community,” Papparaidu said.
