51 Orang Asli residents from 14 families in Dungun have been ordered to vacate state land, where a religious college is planned
DUNGUN: A total of 51 residents from 14 Orang Asli families at the Bukit Bauk Forest Reserve are facing eviction from Terengganu state government land.
The families from the Semoq Beri, Jakun and Temiar tribes have occupied the area near Kampung Durian Mentangau since 2016.
Tok Batin Anuar Bakung said the residents, who earn a living by collecting rattan and forest roots, now live in fear over their future.
He said they received an eviction notice from the Dungun Land Office on July 15, 2025.
“Based on the contents of the letter, residents were ordered to demolish their houses and vacate the area within 90 days,” he said.
A survey found 14 houses in the settlement were also fitted with warning notices prohibiting occupation.
Anuar said the residents had applied to the Land Office on June 10 for permission to stay while awaiting a Temporary Occupation Licence.
That application is being pursued with the Terengganu Orang Asli Development Department.
The families currently live in houses built by the non-profit organisation Insaf Malaysia last year.
The houses are equipped with basic facilities, including solar lighting.
Insaf Malaysia representative Othman Omar said it spent about RM560,000 to build the 14 houses.
The organisation also plans to apply for clean water and electricity supply for the residents.
Terengganu State Infrastructure Committee chairman Datuk Hanafiah Mat said the residents must vacate the area.
He stated the settlement is located on state government land.
The area has been identified as a proposed site for the construction of Kolej Al-Quran Terengganu.
Hanafiah said the state government cannot consider utility applications as long as the land remains state-owned.
