29 April 2024
On Today Show
— Mutang Tuo, Spokesperson for Penan Long Iman – Penan Villagers Disagree with Shin Yang's Forest Restrictions and Carbon Wood Plantation Plans
— Barnie Lasimbang, Founder of Tonibung, environmental activist – Environmental and Community Impacts of Kibing Company's Sand Mining in Sabah
— Paul Nunggang from Ulu Baram – Challenging Abang Jo's Narrative: Community Skepticism Towards Dam Construction Plans
Topik Pada Hari Ini
— Mutang Tuo, Jurucakap untuk Penan Long Iman – Penduduk Penan Tidak Setuju dengan Halangan Hutan dan Pelan Perladangan Kayu Karbon oleh Shin Yang
— Barnie Lasimbang, Pengasas Tonibung, aktivis alam sekitar – Impak Alam Sekitar dan Komuniti daripada Perlombongan Pasir Syarikat Kibing di Sabah
— Paul Nunggang dari Ulu Baram – Menantang Naratif Abang Jo: Skeptisisme Komuniti Terhadap Pelan Pembinaan Empangan
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*Special Randau*
1. "The dialogue between Shin Yang and the Penan of Long Iman and Long Liwok was disappointing. We had very few opportunities to ask questions. We do not agree with Shin Yang coming to plant carbon trees in our forest. We know how to care for the forest, and we forbid Shin Yang from logging and entering our forest again. Shin Yang has deceived us a lot," said Mutang Tuo. "Before, Shin Yang promised to build a road to our village. Until now, our wood has been cut down, but the road has not been built."
2. Victims of accidents due to potholes receive compensation of RM721,000. The Johor Bahru Magistrate's Court made this decision and found that the road maintenance company, Safwa Global Venture (M) Sdn Bhd, was negligent in maintaining the road. Road users involved in accidents due to potholes are encouraged to sue negligent companies and irresponsible governments.
3. Chegu Bard was charged twice under the Sedition Act for defamation and incitement to damage the name of the King. Chegu Bard was charged in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today and is expected to be charged in the Johor Bahru Sessions Court tomorrow. Chegu Bard is charged for making comments on Facebook regarding the proposed construction of a casino in Forest City, as reported by Bloomberg.
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Mutang Tuo, Spokesperson for Penan Long Iman.
*Penan Villagers Disagree with Shin Yang's Forest Restrictions and Carbon Wood Plantation Plans*
Mutang Tuo attended a dialogue session between the villagers of Long Iman with Shin Yang company on April 25, 2024.
Shin Yang Company informed that they will plant Carbon Wood in the Penan forest area. They said, the purpose is that our forest will have more wood and make the air fresher. How for this to happen? We Penan people are no longer allowed to enter the forest and are no longer allowed to cut wood, hunt and collect forest products. This is what makes us Penan disagree. How could we not enter the forest, while we do depend on living through the forest – said Mutang Tuo.
Mutang Tuo comment that, Shin Yang does not need to plant carbon trees in our forest, because high quality wood will build itself, as long as no logging company comes to cut down.
“We also informed Shin Yang that we no longer trust Shin Yang. Shin Yang has told us many promises from a long time ago, but not fulfilled. Until now the promised road to our longhouse has not been built by Shin Yang, but the wood in our area has been cut down.”
The Shin Yang staff who came handed out forms and Mutang and his communities were asked many questions. Some of them hand over Mykad so that personal details can be entered in the form. He said that, another part of them refused to issue Mykad, but only mention the name.
They mentioned repeatedly that they do not agree with Shin Yang coming in and planting carbon trees in their area.
But we had a problem, because none of us knew how to write a protest letter to send to the government or Shin Yang. We need your help out there- Mutang Tuo said. Shin Yang will hold the same dialogue session in Long Payau on May 2, 2024.
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Barnie Lasimbang, Founder of Tonibung, environmental activist
*Environmental and Community Impacts of Kibing Company's Sand Mining in Sabah*
Barnie Lasimbang has raised concerns about the silica sand project run by Kibing Company, which is setting up a factory in Sepanggar with billions of ringgit in investment. He emphasized that the project should be closely monitored, as it is not actually processing complete solar panels but rather developing a minor solar component: clear glass cells made from silica sand to absorb solar energy. This clarification is important, as there seems to be a misconception that Kibing is producing complete solar panels in Sabah.
Silica sand is a crucial material for producing glass, especially for solar panels. Kibing Company has two main reasons for sourcing raw materials from beaches and islands in Sabah, particularly Balambangan Island. The company has attempted to obtain permits for silica sand mining on Balambangan Island. However, since the island is located within the Tun Mustapha Marine Park, this has proven to be challenging. As a result, the company is now focusing on sand mining activities at Andab Bangau Beach.
Two NGOs - Tonibung and JOAS have conducted a fact-finding mission and discovered that the sand mining activity is causing environmental impacts and affecting the daily lives of surrounding communities. Chemicals from the factory are being released into the sea, threatening marine life. Additionally, the company has constructed a large jetty to transport silica from Andab Bangau to the glass factory in Sipangar.
The key question here is whether this type of investment will benefit Sabah. Kibing's current mode of operation involves developing clear glass in Sabah, exporting it to China for the production of complete solar components, and then selling these products worldwide. It is not surprising that they would also sell the solar panels back to Sabah. This situation highlights a missed opportunity for Sabah to maximize its natural resources, which are of high value. This outcome is a result of government transparency issues and insufficient consultation. There is a need to pressure the company to develop complete panels in Sabah so that the state can also enjoy the benefits.
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Paul Nunggang from Ulu Baram
*Challenging Abang Jo's Narrative: Community Skepticism Towards Dam Construction Plans*
Dayak Daily reported that Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg has assured that the construction of cascading dams in Sarawak will not encroach on Native Customary Rights (NCR) land or displace local communities. He emphasized that the dams are designed to ensure minimal environmental impact and will not result in large-scale flooding.
However, Paul Nunggang does not believe in the reasons given by Premier Abang Jo regarding the construction of the Cascading Dam, which is said not to involve the clearing of Native Customary Rights (NCR) land or the relocation of people.
Our concern is that the owners of the territory in the proposed Cascading Dam area will be deceived because what is proposed will turn out differently, resulting in the construction of a mega dam. The existing dams are more than enough for use in Sarawak. Why build many dams just to sell electricity to neighboring countries when people in the interior still rely on solar, gasoline, and generators?
What the people want is no more dam construction; there have already been many rivers eroded and contaminated. What the people want is a paved road to the interior, prioritization of health facilities, not dams, dams, dams.