The Displacement of the Malay People: A Case Study of the Legal and Environmental Injustices Faced by Indigenous Groups in Riau

Abstract

This paper explores the legal and environmental injustices faced by the indigenous Malay communities in Riau, particularly the land dispossession caused by the expansion of logging and palm oil plantations. Over the past few decades, Riau has witnessed rapid deforestation and large-scale land conversions that have displaced indigenous Malay populations from their ancestral territories. The study critically examines the legal battles these communities face in securing land rights, focusing on the inadequacies of Indonesian land laws, such as the 1999 Forestry Law, which has facilitated the encroachment of corporate interests into indigenous territories. Through a combination of legal analysis, case studies, and interviews with affected communities, the paper explores how the legal system has systematically failed to protect indigenous land rights. The study highlights how land dispossession not only leads to environmental degradation but also to the loss of cultural identity and economic livelihoods for the Malay people. The paper also critiques the role of government institutions in enabling land grabbing and corporate encroachment, and it identifies gaps in Indonesia's land tenure system. The findings underscore the need for stronger legal protections for indigenous land rights and propose reforms to the 1999 Forestry Law, advocating for clearer recognition of customary land rights and more inclusive policies for indigenous communities.