Selangor Journal
(from left to right) Mirsudiar Aluj, 18, and her grandfather Along Alej, 62, speaking to the press outside their home at Kampung Gawin, near Pos Gob in Gua Musang, Kelantan, on October 11, 2022. — Picture by BERNAMA

Wild bear raises grave issue in Orang Asli settlement

GUA MUSANG, Jan 9 — A wild bear is believed to have damaged part of a cemetery in the Orang Asli settlement of Pos Balar in the Gua Musang district, dug up a grave and eaten part of a freshly buried corpse, leaving the 100 villagers in fear.

The gruesome discovery was made on December 26 by Mazlan Aluij, 50, a resident of Kampung Dakoh in the settlement who had taken his five children to visit the grave of his wife, Amek Along, 48, who had died on December 1.

He could not believe that the bear had eaten part of his wife’s body.

“I had come across the animal lurking behind my house which is about 300 metres from the cemetery. It had tried to pounce on my pet dog but let out a roar and ran away upon hearing my shouts,” he told reporters.

Mazlan said he had reported the matter to the police and the Department of Wildlife and National Parks.

On December 29, it was reported that villagers of Kampung Perawas, also in Pos Balar, spotted a wild bear looking for durians in an orchard in the village, close to their homes.

Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA) deputy director-general (planning and management), Saiful Zahlan Muhamad Azmi, said JAKOA would discuss the matter with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks.

— Bernama

Top Picks

Capital A to dispose entire stake in AirAsia for RM6.8 bln

Package with ‘bomb threat’ at KLIA turns out to contain laptop, charger

Russia warns downgrading of ties with US if assets seized