While the Gua Musang Orang Asli community in Kelantan battle chainsaws that threaten to transplant their traditional forest with plantations, one village here is up against a different kind of challenge.

Kampung Kelaik, situated along the quiet Gua Musang-Cameron Highlands highway, is isolated from the main cluster of Orang Asli settlements minus a 'post' or administrative centre like the rest.

Villagers here have no access to running water and complain that the river that they depend upon is literally turning brownish red, and are fingering the mining activities uphill for their woes.