KOTA BARU: The Kelantan government has never marginalise the Orang Asli community, said Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob today.
He said instead, the state continues to care of the community and had gazetted 973 hectares of land as reserves for the Orang Asli and another 19,000 hectares for them to roam in the state.
"This issue should not be raised. The Orang Asli population in Kelantan is only about 10,000 and the area mentioned should be sufficient and need not be raised again."
Last Tuesday, 47 Orang Asli who carried out a blockade in Simpang Petei and the road leading to Pos Bihai, Gua Musang were arrested by police after they refused to leave the restricted area during an operation conducted by the Kelantan Forest Department.
However, they were released on police bail after being remanded for between two and three days.
On another matter, Ahmad said people should refrain from disseminating fake images on the flood conditions in the state as it could raise unnecessary anxiety among the people.
He also advised the people in the state to be wary of their surroundings and ready for any eventualities during the monsoon season. -- BERNAMA