GUA MUSANG: The Orang Asli have filed several police reports after their crops in Pos Simpor were repeatedly damaged by two wild elephants since last year.
Pos Simpor Orang Asli Village Development and Safety Committee (JPKKOA) chairman Dendi Johari said this has caused interruptions to the food supply to villagers in Kampung Jader Lama, Kampung Ceranok, Kampung Dandut, Kampung Keledang and Kampung Sedal and resulted in them suffering losses of up to RM60,000 in one year.
"We have also complained to the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) and the Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA) several times, but to no avail.
"We are also increasingly stressed because primary food sources such as hill padi (huma padi), tapioca, vegetables and bananas have been destroyed by wild elephants," he said when met by reporters here today.
Twenty-nine-year-old farmer Cubis Chele said he also lodged a report with the police after wild elephants invaded his 1.2-hectare paddy field on Friday (Jan 26).
"There are also residents who have stopped working on the farm because they are disappointed that they cannot enjoy the harvest. I suffered a loss of RM6,000 after the paddy was destroyed by elephants.
Gua Musang district police chief Sik Choon Foo confirmed that the Orang Asli have made a total of 23 reports on Jan 8, Jan 22 and Jan 27 related to the threat posed by wild elephants. --BERNAMA