Judicial Commissioner Anselm Charles Fernandis in his decision said that striking out the case would be a drastic action.He set hearing for the case for three days starting June 24 and awarded a cost of RM2,000 to the plaintiffs.
The orang asli, numbering about 35, filed the suit against the federal government and the Perak state government in April last year. The suit also named Perak Hydro Renewable Energy Corporation Sdn Bhd, Conso Hydro RE Sdn Bhd, the Perak Land and Mines director and the Orang Asli Development department director-general as defendants.The orang asli were represented by counsels K. Vinu, Conrad Lopez and Lee Yoong-Uei, while the developers were represented by Mohd Fitri Asmuni.In an immediate response, one of the plaintiffs Wah Ngah Pili, 57, said they were happy that their case would go to a full trial.
The project to construct the dams started in 2012, and the community has been against the project from the beginning.Related News