Media Statement by Ngeh Koo Ham in Ipoh on Thursday, 14^th January 2010:

Formation of Orang Asli Development Advisory Committee by Dato Seri Zambry Bin Abdul Kadir another camouflage to cover up BN’s uncertain legal position as a legitimate government and his inability to perform. The formation of this committee is in fact detrimental to the Orang Asli’s interest as it back track the plans by PR Government to grant the Orang Aslis land titles and to gazette their land as their reserves which were at the implementation stage

Since the grabbing of power from the people elected Pakatan Rakyat Perak State Government on 6/2/2009 the BN Perak State Government led by Dato’ Seri Zambry Bin Abdul Kadir has make numerous announcements with regards to various projects to be carried out in Perak to cover up BN’s uncertain legal position as a legitimate Government and also to divert the people’s attention from his undemocratic and illegal grab of power. I believe none of the projects have actually taken off. In fact many potential investors were upset that a mere inquiry is announced in the media as the investors going to invest millions if not billions of ringgit in Perak when the lands for the projects have yet to be identified and the EIA reports not done. The people of Perak must realize that unless a democratically elected government is installed in Perak, Perak will continue to suffer. The people of Perak must not be hookwinked by the Dato’ Seri Zambry and his announcements.

The recent announcement by Dato’ Seri Zambry that an Orang Asli Development Advisory Committee will be formed and headed by Datuk Saarani Mohamad is another such example of a camonflage to mislead the people that the BN Perak Government is doing something for the people while in fact acting against the interest of the people. Why do we need another advisory committee? We have already Jabatan Orang Asli, Jaringan Orang Asli and hosts of other orang asli related organizations who are able to give advice. The orang Aslis do not need another advisory committee.

What the orang Asli need is action on the part of the State Government to grant them land and protect their land rights.

Under the Pakatan Rakyat State Government we have already formed a two tier committee headed by me to implement the giving of land titles to orang Aslis and in other cases to gazette their lands as Orang Asli reserve so that they will not be pushed out of their lands whenever a logging company moves in.

If Dato’ Seri Zambry is serious in helping the Orang Aslis he should continue with the implementation of what has been done by Pakatan Rakyat Government rather than back track to form another committee just to mislead the people.

As the legality of the BN Perak State Government is still pending at the Federal Court, the least the BN Government can do is to get the technical details for the granting of lands and the gazetting of the Orang Asli reserves done so that whoever is declared the legal Perak Government can more ahead to grant the Orang Aslis their land titles and also have their reserves gazetted.

* Ngeh Koo Ham, Pakatan Rakyat Perak State Government Senior Exco Member; ADUN for Sitiawan & MP for Beruas