Sultan of Pahang warns against arbitrary use of ‘customary land’ term

The Sultan of Pahang, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, has cautioned against the arbitrary use of the term ‘customary land’ (tanah adat), particularly regarding the Orang Asli community.

Speaking at a program in Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Mok, the Sultan noted that the Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954 (Act 134) does not recognize a category specifically named ‘customary land.’ Instead, the Act provides for ‘Orang Asli Area’ under Section 6 and ‘Orang Asli Reserve’ under Section 7, which are gazetted by state authorities.

The Sultan warned that land claims should not be accepted simply because an area was previously occupied or used. He expressed concern over increasing issues of land encroachment in Pahang, alleging that some large-scale explorations are orchestrated by outside bosses who use women and children to defend illegal encroachments. He emphasized that while the state does not intend to deny Orang Asli rights, all claims must be grounded in law and the specific provisions of the Constitution and Act 134.