Five Orang Asli held at Tasek Bera released on police bail

Five Orang Asli, four women aged between 30 and 65, who were arrested for obstructing an enforcement team during a joint operation at Tasek Bera Conservation Forest Reserve, have been released on police bail. District police chief Superintendent Zulkiflee Nazir announced their release around 5pm today after their statements were recorded.

The five were detained when they allegedly provoked enforcement personnel and refused to follow instructions. They are being investigated under Section 186 of the Penal Code, which carries a potential maximum penalty of two years in jail, a fine of up to RM10,000, or both upon conviction. The Orang Asli from Kampung Pathir had reportedly set up barriers and provoked the enforcement personnel conducting an operation under the National Forestry Act 1984 around 10am yesterday.

The enforcement operation, which started on September 14, aimed to prevent land encroachment at the Tasek Bera forest reserve, a Ramsar site.