Updated with more info from graf 4
KOTA BHARU, March 10: The trial for the Orang Asli of Kelantan versus the Kelantan State Government and several other companies took off at the High Court here today.
The trial from 10.03.2025 till 13.03.2025 will see the plaintiffs begin their case on Monday with seven witnesses.
Rajesh Nagarajan, and Sachpreetraj Singh, the two lawyers representing the Orang Asli, said “the case is an important matter involving the rights of the Orang Asli to exist meaningfully in Malaysia.”
The civil lawsuit was filed by the Orang Asli of Kampung Kelaik against 14 entities, including the Kelantan government in March 2021 at the Kota Bharu High Court, seeking a declaration of their rightful ownership over the disputed ancestral land.
The plaintiffs have named ten corporate entities as the first to tenth defendants: Syarikat Perlombongan Gua Musang Sdn Bhd, Redstar Capital Sdn Bhd, Aqua Orion Sdn Bhd, Damai Corporate Services Sdn Bhd, Sindiyan Sdn Bhd, Sindiyan Agro Park Sdn Bhd, Ladang Kelantan Sdn Bhd, Ikrar Bumi Sdn Bhd, Ladang Ulu Nenggiri Sdn Bhd, and Iliasco Engineering & Construction Sdn Bhd, who were represented by separate law firms.
The 11th to 13th defendants are the State Land and Mines Office, State Forestry Department, and Kelantan government, who were represented by the Kelantan Legal Advisor Offices.
The 14th defendant is the Department of Orang Asli Development, which was represented by the Attorney General’s Office.
— WE
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