The Federal Court today allowed an appeal by seven Orang Asli villagers from Pekan in a lawsuit over the destruction of ancestral graves linked to an agricultural development project.
The apex court reinstated a 2023 High Court ruling in favour of the villagers and upheld an award of RM140,000 in damages.
The villagers had sued Agrobest (M) Sdn Bhd and two employees after graves at Kampung Batu 20 were allegedly destroyed during land clearing works about eight years ago.
The Court of Appeal had earlier dismissed the case in 2024, ruling the plaintiffs lacked legal standing.
However, the Federal Court ruled that the appellate court had erred, finding that the villagers had provided sufficient evidence, including photographs, burial items and death certificates.
The court also noted that the existence of the graves was not disputed and that police reports had been filed over the incident.
The apex court further affirmed that Orang Asli communities retain customary rights over ancestral land, even without formal land titles.
