25 September 2024
On Today Show
— Nicholas Mujah, General Secretary SADIA – Sarawak’s Timber Industry Under Fire: NGOs Push for EU Action to Protect Indigenous Rights
— Bruce Yee, the PKR branch leader for Sarikei – 30 Minutes From Town, But 30 Years Without Water: Sg Ribong’s Struggle for Clean Water
Topik Pada Hari Ini
— Nicholas Mujah, Setiausaha Agung SADIA – Industri Perhutanan Sarawak Di Bawah Tekanan: NGO Desak Tindakan EU Untuk Melindungi Hak-Hak Orang Asal
— Bruce Yee, Ketua Cabang PKR Sarikei – 30 Minit Dari Bandar, Tetapi 30 Tahun Tanpa Air: Perjuangan Sg Ribong Untuk Mendapatkan Air Bersih
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Special Randau
1. The SADIA office in Kuching Sarawak almost every day receives complaints from the Orang Asal community about land and forest encroachment throughout the state of Sarawak. This shows that the logging, mining and oil palm plantation companies do not comply with and respect the customs and culture of the local communities who own the land and forest. - said SADIA secretary general- nicholas Mujah.2. The trial of the US$1.18 billion SRC fund embezzlement case at the Kuala Lumpur High Court. SRC alleged that Najib controlled the board of directors through Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil. The company's chief executive officer. Acknowledging that Nik Faisal represented himself. But Najib denied that he was in a position to micromanage the company. Investment decisions are made by the board of directors after due diligence.
3. The ringgit maintained its upward momentum against the US and surpassed the RM4.14 level for the first time since November 2021.
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Nicholas Mujah, General Secretary SADIA
Sarawak’s Timber Industry Under Fire: NGOs Push for EU Action to Protect Indigenous Rights
Several local and international NGOs have urged the EU to classify Sarawak's wood products as "high risk" under the new EUDR regulations that will come into force in 2025. Nicholas Mujah, representing SADIA, also expressed agreement with the NGOs' call. The SADIA office in Kuching receives almost daily reports of encroachment on indigenous people's land by logging companies, oil palm plantations, and mining operations, a result of decades of unchecked aggression. According to Nicholas, the devastating effects of climate change are already being felt, and without decisive action from the EU, the invasion and dispossession of the indigenous people's land and rights will continue.
He addressed concerns that blocking Sarawak's wood products, palm oil, and mining products from the EU market might negatively impact the economy of Sarawak and Malaysia. However, Nicholas clarified that the EUDR does not mean a total ban on sales. Instead, products must be produced in compliance with transparent laws that respect the rights, customs, and culture of local and indigenous populations.
Nicholas also pointed out that the GPS government in Sarawak often cites MTCS (Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme) as proof of compliance with industry standards. However, he criticized the MTCS audit process, stating that it relies too heavily on existing laws and fails to respect the rights and customs of the indigenous communities that own the forests. He added that the MTCS audit does not account for the social impact, and worse, the audit teams often consist of individuals from the timber industry itself. Furthermore, state-level enforcement agencies responsible for approving logging permits are frequently influenced by powerful politicians, leading to logging and plantation activities that violate indigenous rights.
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Bruce Yee, the PKR branch leader for Sarikei,
30 Minutes From Town, But 30 Years Without Water: Sg Ribong’s Struggle for Clean Water
Bruce Yee shared about the struggles of the people in Sg Ribong, Sarikei, who have not had access to clean water for the past 30 years. They have been forced to rely entirely on dirty river water. Access to clean water is a basic human necessity, yet it seems that the Sarawak government has made no effort to assist the people. Although the Sarawak government claims that Sarawak is a developed and high-income state, the reality is that the people are still underdeveloped and poor.
During dry seasons, villagers in Sg Ribong are often forced to walk 2 kilometers just to find water for bathing. It is unbearable for the residents to have to walk such long distances. Every election, GPS frequently promises to provide clean water to the people, but after the elections, these promises remain empty.
There are 8 longhouses along the same road suffering from the lack of clean water, with 481 families still using polluted river water for bathing. According to Bruce Yee, it would not be difficult for the Sarawak government to extend treated water pipelines, as the population of Sg Ribong, Sarikei is only a 30-minute drive from the Sarikei market.
It is unreasonable that the Sarawak government cannot provide clean water access to the people in Sg Ribong. It is also unfair for the Sarawak state government to request development funds from the federal government but fail to implement projects for the benefit of the people.
Could it be that because Abang Jo once belittled the people of Sarawak, claiming that Sarawakians are wealthy because they can afford to buy Hilux vehicles, the government is neglecting the needs of the rural people?