GUA MUSANG: Three rivers in Orang Asli settlements here are polluted due to uncontrolled agricultural activities such as vegetable farming in the Lojing Highlands.
The affected rivers are Sungai Lingkong, Sungai Belatop and Sungai Chekal.
The rivers are located in four Orang Asli villages namely Kampung Sungai Dengkong, Kampung Jedip, Kampung Sengsang and Kampung Shangwai.
Tok batin (village head) for the four villages, Nasir Busu said the unchecked agricultural activities such as vegetable farming in Lojing Highlands led to the three rivers being filled with mud and sludge.
He said the rivers were located near Pos Brooke. The uncontrolled agricultural activities have affected some 800 Orang Asli.
Besides the three polluted rivers, he claimed two more streams have been buried by land from the agricultural site.
The two streams are Sungai Tagop and Sungai TH.
"The Orang Asli community here are worried that if the situation persists, it might cause more serious impact to the environment including floods and landslides.
"Two weeks ago, Orang Asli villagers in Kampung Sengsang experienced mudfloods.
"We suspected this occurred due to the uncontrolled agricultural activities in the highlands."
Nasir, 53, who become the village head since 2013 said the Orang Asli are worried about the situation becoming worse during the coming rainy season.
"It does not affect our source of livelihood because we do not rely on the rivers any more, but it poses a risk on our lives.
"The river water has become dirty, muddy and contains chemicals which we believe are from fertilisers and pesticides used in farming," he added.
Nasir hoped relevant authorities would take stern action to resolve the pollution in the rivers.