other purposes. Another 290 hectares will be surrendered to the state to be alienated to the Orang Asli once the agreement lapses in the 92nd month (Berita Harian 28.4.1997, New Straits Times 28.4.1997, The Star 28.4.1997). However, the Orang Asli involved were not happy with this move. They questioned why forest products valued at RM60 million were to be apportioned by the Koperasi Daya Asli Johor Berhad (mainly set up by certain JHEOA officers and Orang Asli leaders) and not by the local community. The older Orang Asli, on the other hand, were not in favour of the project as it would mean that three of the settlements would have to move into the traditional territories of Kemidak and Selai—that is, into a smaller area only in order to benefit from infrastructure facilities that they were already enjoying in their existing settlements. One of the headmen, Batin Keli Osman of Kampung Lenek, disputed the reason, given in a JHEOA working paper, that the village was too far in the interior and therefore needed to be relocated. “The actual fact is,” he said, “our village is located next to the Malay kampung of Kampung Panca Jaya, about 6 kilometres from the main road. We have easy access to schools, clinics, shops and others, while enjoying the economic stability that comes with cultivating our own land” (New Straits Times 12.11.1997). He added that it was puzzling that two other kampungs located about 64 kilometres in the interior would not be relocated, while his should be relocated. However, the project was compulsorily implemented. Four years later, only 15 per cent of the oil palm and 12 per cent of the houses had been completed. The Johor Menteri Besar attributed the delay to the incompetence of a contractor appointed by the new holder of the privatization project, YPJ Corporation Sdn Bhd. The latter had been given the contract after the original private developer absconded after logging most of the timber concession and before embarking on the promised development project (New Straits Times 13.4.1999). Today, not all the promised development has been delivered, and Orang Asli in three of the villages have sought legal redress through the courts. ORANG ASLI – RIGHTS, PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS 41