18-05-2025
Landslide cuts off main access route for 3,000 Orang Asli villagers in Gua Musang
GUA MUSANG: Around 3,000 Orang Asli residents from Pos Simpor and Pos Gob have been cut off after a landslide occurred in Kampung Penad, Pos Simpor — the main access route in and out of their villages.
As a result, 19 residents from Pos Simpor were forced to endure a gruelling 10-hour journey to exit the area.
Orang Asli Village Development and Security Committee chairman for Pos Simpor, Jamil Jabon said that frequent rainfall in the area, particularly in the evenings, contributed to the landslide.
He said the incident was discovered around 9am yesterday while he and several villagers were travelling out of the settlement to attend to matters in Gua Musang town.
"Upon reaching Kampung Penad, we found that nearly two metres of the road was buried under soil and fallen trees from the slope of Bukit Kawug.
"We had to carry our motorcycles one by one through the landslide area, which extended our journey time to about nine hours, compared to the usual three.
"We have informed the Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) so that further action can be taken," he said when met at the Kuala Betis Resettlement Scheme (RPS) today.
Pos Simpor resident Mohd Syafiq Dendi Abdullah, 32, expressed hope that the damaged route would be repaired quickly to facilitate villagers' daily needs.
He said the road was a vital access point for both Pos Simpor and Pos Gob residents.
"The incident likely resulted from continuous rainfall from around 6pm on Friday until early Saturday morning. Before that, the area had also experienced frequent, prolonged rains.
"We hope the debris can be cleared and the road surface levelled as soon as possible. We're especially concerned about emergencies, like getting patients to town for treatment, which could be severely impacted if road repairs are delayed," he said.
Meanwhile, Kelantan and Terengganu Jakoa deputy director Roslina Bun said the agency had received reports of the landslide blocking access to the Orang Asli villages.
She added that discussions would be held with contractors currently upgrading the road and with plantation stakeholders to carry out immediate clearing works.
