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Kuala Lumpur: Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (JOAS) views with grave concern the arrest of 21 Orang Asli from Kampung Jemeri, Kuala Rompin, Pahang on 9 February 2026 by the police as they attempted to stop the encroachment of their customary territory by a company.

Of those arrested, 17 are women, including elderly women, mothers with young children, women with disabilities, and mothers caring for children with disabilities at home and 4 men.

They are not criminals. They are Indigenous residents defending the land that sustains their lives.

The Tok Batin of Kampung Jemeri, Keria Bin Peletak, has lodged a police report regarding the company’s actions in entering the customary territory without obtaining the community’s Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), a fundamental principle recognized in international Indigenous rights standards.

For the Orang Asli community, land is not merely a physical asset. Land is the lifeline of their existence the source of food, culture, identity, and intergenerational continuity.

Encroachment onto customary territory effectively strips them of their right to live as a community. JOAS expresses deep sympathy for all those arrested and questions the appropriateness of police actions that appear to target villagers particularly women and vulnerable individuals who were peacefully defending their rights. 

Under the Federal Constitution of Malaysia, no party should face discrimination, including Indigenous Peoples. The actions taken against this community raise serious concerns regarding justice, human rights, and respect for Orang Asli customary land rights.

Accordingly, JOAS firmly:

1. Demands that the company immediately cease all encroachment activities on the customary territory of Kampung Jemeri.
2. Urges the government to halt the issuance of licenses or project approvals involving customary lands without recognition of and consent from Orang Asli communities.
3. Calls for the immediate release of all individuals arrested, as they were detained while peacefully defending their land rights.
4. Urges the authorities to uphold human rights principles and ensure that the role of the police remains that of protecting public safety, not suppressing communities defending their lawful rights. JOAS will continue to monitor this case closely and stand in solidarity with the KampungJemeri community in defending their customary territory