18 September 2023
Topik Pada Hari Inni
> Dennis Along, Pengarah Komunikasi PKR Baram - Komuniti Orang Asal Sarawak Menemui Harapan dalam Kejayaan Save Rivers
> Irene Grace, Penduduk Long Moh Baram - Penarikan Diri Samling Menandakan Kemenangan bagi Orang Baram
> Nasir Dollah, Timbalan Pengerusi Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Kelantan (JKOAK) - Ancaman Pembalakan di Pos Ber Menimbulkan Kebimbangan di Kalangan Penduduk Orang Asli
> George dari Uma Akeh - Menanam Pokok di Sini, Menebang Pokok di Sana: Kerajaan Negeri GPS Hanya Mengutamakan Keuntungan Mereka Sendiri
On Today Show
> Dennis Along, PKR Baram Communications Director – Sarawak's Native Communities Find Hope in Save Rivers' Legal Triumph
> Irene Grace, Long Moh Baram resident – Samling's Retreat Marks a Win for Baram's Environmental Advocates
> Nasir Dollah, Deputy Chairman of the Kelantan Orang Asli Village Network (JKOAK) – Logging Threat in Pos Ber Sparks Concern Among Orang Asli Residents
> George from Uma Akeh – Planting Trees Here, Cutting Trees There: GPS State Gov only Prioritizing Their Own Profit
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Special Randau
1. Samling Withdrawal of a defamation lawsuit of 5 million against Save Rivers
2. PMX's visit to China - RM19.84 billion MOU, and China increases palm oil imports to 500,000 tons per year
3. Questions related to the Zahid Hamidi DNAA case can be asked in tomorrow's PMQT session, says Minister of Law Azalina Othman
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Dennis Along- PKR Baram Communications Director
*Sarawak's Native Communities Find Hope in Save Rivers' Legal Triumph*
According to Dennis, Save Rivers' victory over Samling today shows that. The giant logging companies can be defeated by the villagers, if we are brave, smart and true. Just like the story in the bible "David vs Goliath". Who would have thought that Samling could be defeated today - Dennis said. The moral of this case- That the Natives in Sarawak can defend their land and forest through the right way in court. Dennis thanked the lawyer representing Save Rivers- Simon Siah and Dennis also thanked Peter Kalang for always fighting for the people of Baram. We at RFS have not yet managed to get a comment from Save Rivers and Lawyer Simon Siah. We understand that the parties involved are not allowed to issue statements, which is part of the terms of the settlement.
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Irene Grace- Long Moh Baram resident
*Samling's Retreat Marks a Win for Baram's Environmental Advocates*
Irene felt confident and grateful to Save Rivers, Peter Kalang - for defending the Baram forest and river from encroachment by the Samling Logging Company. As a result of the persistence of Peter Kalang and the team, today Samling has withdrawn. According to Irene the people of Baram will defend their Forest, land and river from any invasion. Previously we managed to defend Baram from being flooded by the Baram hydroelectric dam (it was frozen). We are confident and believe that we will succeed once again in defending Baram from the continuous forest encroachment.
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Nasir Dollah, Deputy Chairman of the Kelantan Orang Asli Village Network (JKOAK)
*Logging Threat in Pos Ber Sparks Concern Among Orang Asli Residents*
Yesterday, the community of Kampung Pos Ber, which includes Kampung Cedal, Kerbok, Mendrod, and Kampung Haed of Pos Brooke, lodged a police report regarding the encroachment on their customary land. This issue is not new, but the most recent incident involves a logging company about to commence operations. We have engaged in a series of discussions with the company during which the community decided to oppose both the logging activity and the subsequent plantation that will follow.
Currently, we have not received any response from the company, and we sincerely hope they will consider our concerns. We also urge the state government to halt this activity in Pos Ber. After logging, the area is slated to become a commercial plantation covering 2,000 acres, which is within the vicinity of Orang Asli customary territory and close to our settlements. This development will have a significant impact on our rubber trees, durians, and other fruit trees, in addition to causing pollution in the rivers and the environment.
We are counting on relevant authorities, such as the forestry department and JAKOA (Department of Orang Asli Development), to play their roles in addressing this issue.
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George from Uma Akeh
*Planting Trees Here, Cutting Trees There: GPS State Gov only Prioritizing Their Own Profits*
The Sarawak Forest Department has initiated tree-planting programs to balance conservation and development, aligning with the 'Greening Malaysia' agenda. Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau emphasized that these efforts aim to restore and enhance the region's ecological wealth and biodiversity.
George comment that, on one hand, the Forestry Department is planting trees, but on the other hand, logging companies are cutting them down. This way, it makes no difference - it's a cycle of planting and cutting.
He mentioned that the state government of Sarawak also intends to build dams, but they clear land and plant trees, which he sees as mere distractions. He pointed out that the continuous logging of trees, both in the past and present, has led to recurrent inland floods, and the cleared land is used for oil palm plantations instead of crops like rice that the people need.
He stated that if the Sarawak state government truly wants to help the people, they should develop a series of planting activities for the inland communities.