16 July 2024
On Today Show
— Andrew Paul, Deputy Secretary General of SADIA - From Victory to Uncertainty: Kampung Merakai's Land Rights Struggle
— Maria from Lambir – Poor Roads, Not Riches: The Reality of Rural Sarawak
— [Forum: Community Voice] Ricklend, the spokesperson for PACOS (Partners of Community Organisations Sabah) – Traditional Values in Modern Times: Indigenous Forest Management in Sabah
Topik Pada Hari Ini
— Andrew Paul, Timbalan Setiausaha Agung SADIA - Dari Kemenangan ke Ketidakpastian: Perjuangan Hak Tanah Kampung Merakai
— Maria dari Lambir – Jalan Raya yang Teruk, Bukan Kekayaan: Realiti Sarawak Luar Bandar
— [Forum: Suara Komuniti] Ricklend, jurucakap PACOS – Nilai Tradisional di Zaman Moden: Pengurusan Hutan Orang Asli di Sabah
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Special Randau
1. Najib Razak brought the house arrest case to the appeals court. After a judicial review related to the alleged existence of an addendum order allowing Najib to serve the remainder of his sentence at home - rejected by the high court. This time Najib tried his luck to bring his case to the appeal court.
2. Residents of Merakai village in Serian started a blockade preventing the Trade Winds company from entering their land. Residents run the blockade peacefully and do not want any provocation. Brother Andrew Paul reports for the RFS.
3. GPS/UN claims they have solved the Dayak land ownership problem. Through the amendment of the land code sec 6a in 2018. GPS claims that the state government of Sarawak has recognized the land ownership rights of each longhouse. Villagers can apply and the government will give land to the village of 500 hectares up to a maximum of 1000 hectares. Is this the right way to recognize the Dayak people's rights to land. We broadcast the speech of Gareth Rentap Jabu (UN/GPS) regarding the amendment of the Sarawak land code sec 6a.
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Andrew Paul, Deputy Secretary General of SADIA
*From Victory to Uncertainty: Kampung Merakai's Land Rights Struggle*
Andrew Paul has reported that the 95-door residents of Kampung Merakai in Serian have established a blockade to defend their land rights against encroachment by the Trade Winds company. The residents demand that Trade Winds vacate their land. Paul noted that this dispute is likely to endure a prolonged court process.Historically, before 2018, the residents successfully sued the DDT Pelita plantation company, with the court ruling in favor of Kampung Merakai. However, following the 2018 federal court decision in the Tuai Rumah Sandah case, which ruled that Dayak custom has no legal effect on Native Customary Rights (NCR) land ownership, palm oil plantation companies have perceived a renewed opportunity to reclaim previously lost cases. Consequently, Trade Winds has brought the case to court again under a different company name, aiming to leverage the 2018 ruling to secure a favorable judgment.
Paul explained that plantation companies have been emboldened by the 2018 decision and Sarawak's subsequent land law amendment, which restricts village land to only 500 hectares, with the possibility of appealing for an additional 500 hectares to the minister in charge of land. This legislative change is seen as detrimental and unfair to the Dayak community, which traditionally manages much larger areas of NCR land.
To address the persistent NCR land issues, Paul emphasized that any political party will respond to the will of the people if they unite and express their demands. He argued that if the Dayak community unites and overthrows the GPS, the subsequent ruling party would be compelled to formulate policies that reflect the Dayak's interests and wishes. Paul criticized the government's arbitrary determination of village land limits and highlighted the significant discrepancy between the imposed 500-hectare limit and the much larger traditional NCR areas, such as the average 12,000 hectares per longhouse in Baram, as cited by Harrison Ngau.
Paul's advocacy underscores the need for political unity among the Dayak community to secure fair and just land policies that respect their customary practices and rights.
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Maria from Lambir
*Poor Roads, Not Riches: The Reality of Rural Sarawak*
Maria spoke for the first time on RFS, stating that the Sarawak Premier's remark, suggesting that rural people owning a Hi-Lux in every longhouse family implies they are not poor, is incorrect. According to Madam Maria, purchasing a 4x4 vehicle is a necessity due to the poor road conditions in Sarawak. For those who own small farms, the Hi-Lux is essential for transporting oil palm fruits for sale to increase their income.Madam Maria leaves the village every day because she transports school children. The road conditions along the 5 km stretch from the longhouse to the market and Bakong school are very poor, and the worst part is the high vehicle repair costs resulting from the damaged roads.
It is illogical to label every person who owns a 4x4 as wealthy—this is an unreasonable statement! Their representative is YB Ripin, Adun Lambir.
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Ricklend, the spokesperson for PACOS (Partners of Community Organisations Sabah)
*Traditional Values in Modern Times: Indigenous Forest Management in Sabah*Ricklend Christopher explains that there are many methods of forest management introduced by the government, such as forest reserves. However, a significant issue arises in places like Sabah, where most Indigenous people also reside in these forest reserves. This situation leads to overlapping claims by the Indigenous people and the government. While the government asserts that residents cannot live in these forest reserve areas, the Indigenous people argue that they have lived there for decades, since their great-grandparents' time, and they have evidence to support this. The case has been brought to court and remains unresolved.
Christopher notes that the Indigenous people decided to demonstrate to the government that they not only live in these areas but have also developed the land and practiced forest management. He wishes to share how Indigenous people in Sabah live their traditional and cultural lives and manage their forests based on traditional values.
Christopher highlights one Murut village, Kampung Alutok in Tenom. This village exemplifies a combination of long-term and short-term agriculture systems. The villagers maintain forests for herbs, sago sites, and hunting activities, and they also have a clean water source or river. This village showcases community protocols for forest and river management, notably without the presence of palm oil plantations.
Another example provided by Christopher is the village of Sungai Eloy in Pitas. The coastal community here practices momokan, relying heavily on mangroves for their livelihood. However, in 2010, the government implemented the largest prawn rearing project in Malaysia, supplying to countries like Japan and Singapore. This project, unfortunately, destroyed the community's livelihood as the mangrove trees were completely decimated, affecting the entire biological system.