25 July 2024
On Today Show
— Nick Kelesau, spokesman for the Penan Keruan Organization – Tensions Rise Between Penan Leaders Supporting Logging and Penan Communities Opposing It
— John Bara from Uma Akeh Baram – Uma Akeh Villagers Take Legal Action Over Unpaid Land Lease Funds
Topik Pada Hari Ini
— Nick Kelesau, jurucakap untuk Organisasi Penan Keruan – Ketegangan Meningkat Antara Pemimpin Penan yang Menyokong Pembalakan dan Komuniti Penan yang Menentangnya
— John Bara dari Uma Akeh Baram – Penduduk Uma Akeh Mengambil Tindakan Undang-Undang Mengenai Dana Sewa Tanah yang Belum Dibayar
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Special Randau
1. GPS gives responsibility to logging companies to implement projects to advance the Penan people. Borneoland Timber Resources Logging Company sdn.bhd was asked to build roads and houses for 4 Penan communities in Ulu Baram and in return this company was allowed to log.
2. Forest therapy is internationally recognized for its mental and physical health benefits. Dr kareen Rajoo from Malaysia initiated scientific research on forest therapy, making Malaysia one of the first countries in Southeast Asia to conduct such research. In 2022, the global tourism industry is estimated to be worth 172.4 billion dollars. Why is Sarawak still interested in destroying the forest? Why not take advantage of the existing forest, in this context the Penan people are the most experts.
3. Water quality and modeling expert - prof Zaki Zainudin said, don't let sources at risk of pollution operate upstream. Referring to the recent disruption of water supply in Selangor contributed by pollution from factories processing acrylic materials. If seen in the state of Sarawak. It is very foolish to build mega hydro dams that will surely pollute the environment in the long run.
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Nick Kelesau, spokesman for the Penan Keruan Organization
Tensions Rise Between Penan Leaders Supporting Logging and Penan Communities Opposing It
Nick reported that the logging company appointed by GPS/Borneoland Timber resources sdn.bhd-has started a smear campaign against NGOs that oppose logging in the Taman Damai Baram-UBFA area. According to Nick, lately many meetings have been arranged by the company involved with the Penan people and with YB of the Baram and Dun Mulu areas. The Penan people who are affected by the anti-BMF campaign, SAVE RIVERS AND THE Penan Keruan Organization forbid these NGOs to speak or give their views. They erected a banner that said bmf and supporters were not allowed to interfere with the ongoing project in the Ba Data Bila area. BMF and their supporters have no rights in the Ba Data Bila area and we Ba Data Bila residents fully support the efforts of the Premier of Sarawak and the Balak company to make projects in our area. The intended project is to build a road from Ba Data Bila to Long Lelang and all over the land and build houses for four penan communities in Ba Data Bila, Ba Mubui, Ba Sebatou and Ba Pengaran Kelian. Nick insisted that Penan did not prevent development but the way the mentioned projects were done was wrong. Just by building roads, our logs are cut down greedily. The logging company wants to build a road to Long Lelang while cutting logs in the area it passes through. All this is not allowed in the original plan of UBFA. Even the original UBFA plan also included the development of infrastructure for the penan community. With transparent funds from the Japanese and Korean governments as well as donations from NGOs such as BMF. Why do penan groups led by Pemanca Uning Bong and Penghulu Daud anger the BMF and other parties over penan poverty. These two Penan leaders should have angered GPS because the Penan people's forest has been looted but they have still failed to build a basic infrastructure for the Penan people.
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John Bara from Uma Akeh Baram
Uma Akeh Villagers Take Legal Action Over Unpaid Land Lease Funds
John Bara reported the postponement of the case against KK Anthony Ngau of Uma Akeh. According to John, KK Anthony Ngau promised to give the land rental proceeds to Lian Api, Michael Api, and Laeng Api. These promises were made last September and November but have yet to be fulfilled. KK Anthony Ngau claims the money is still in the bank, repeating the same excuse for nearly a year. Feeling deceived, the three have taken KK Anthony Ngau to the magistrate's court, but a new date has been set. Allegedly, the land rental money was deposited into the AJKKK account. Holly Enterprise rented the villagers' land for palm oil cultivation and made payments, but KK Anthony Ngau has been untrustworthy in his duties.