Advocacy

Kampung Kelaik Temiar Rights

by Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)

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THE PROBLEM

The Kg Kelaik community in Kelantan faces severe environmental deterioration and disruption of their traditional way of life due to encroachment by development companies since 2009. Pollution has contaminated essential food sources, putting the residents' safety at risk. The ongoing encroachment on their homeland negatively impacts their livelihoods, which are heavily dependent on forest resources. In response, three Kg Kelaik residents filed a lawsuit against 10 companies and 4 government bodies in 2021. To support this legal battle and raise awareness, the campaign seeks funds for legal services, a public awareness campaign, and logistical needs during the upcoming trial in April 2024. The aim is to rightfully reclaim the ancestral lands that the Orang Asli of Kg Kelaik have been inhabiting for centuries.

 

THE SOLUTION

The campaign serves as a rallying point for public support, crucial in ensuring the well-being and livelihoods of Kg Kelaik residents. Contributions to this cause directly aid the indigenous community in their fight for ancestral land rights. By engaging with this campaign, individuals become integral to the collective effort to resist the corporate greed that disregards the Kg Kelaik’s community's welfare. This initiative empowers the Orang Asli of Kg Kelaik to assert their claims to lands engraved in centuries of history and cultural significance.

 

THE IMPACT

This campaign not only secures legal representation and logistical support for the Kg Kelaik community but also contributes to broader goals. Upholding ancestral land rights through legal channels establishes a foundation of legal security, shielding the community from land grabs and arbitrary displacements. The achievement of this would foster a concrete sense of security and stability. Beyond legal victories, the campaign signifies a commitment to human rights, environmental protection, and the preservation of  cultural diversity. Ultimately, success in this case holds the potential to transform not only the immediate circumstances of Kg Kelaik but also sets a precedent for indigenous rights and environmental conservation in Malaysia.

Goal Breakdown

Goal 1 - Legal Fees. Amount Needed: MYR60,000.00

Goal 2 - Logistics for trial. Amount Needed: MYR20,000.00

Goal 3 - Assessment impact on water soil and rock due to land encroachment. Amount Needed: MYR20,000.00

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About the Organization/Project behind this Campaign

Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)

SUARAM's People Before Profit (PBP)

SUARAM's "People Before Profit" Desk began as an effort to focus and coordinate the struggles of  Malaysians against profit-driven projects. Monitoring and documentation by SUARAM showcase a concerning pattern indicating that various State and Non-State actors are complicit in numerous violations of human rights under the guise of development in Malaysia. The situation on the ground has not changed much, deforestation of indigenous peoples' land is still happening. 

 

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) Support Group for Kg Kelaik
On March 10th, 2021, three residents from Kampung Kelaik filed a summons against ten companies and four state government agencies of Kelantan. Since then, a few concerned organisations have assisted them in amplifying their case.

Due to prolonged legal proceedings, in November 2023, a group of CSOs agreed to establish a Support Group for Kampung Kelaik Temiar Rights. This support group is an effort to show solidarity with the indigenous community in Kampung Kelaik and help them raise funds for their fight. The fundraising efforts will cover their legal fees, logistics during court trial days in the High Court of Kota Bharu, Kelantan, and assessments on the soil, water, and rock due to encroachment activities.