7 December 2023
On Today Show
> Roland Engan, Human Rights Lawyer – Ba Pakan Chief Removed for Environmental Stance: Village Rejects Replacement
> Nick Kelesau, leader of Keruan NGO – Logging and Dams: Abang Jo's Version of Green Economy?
> Remould Siew from Tahabas – Towards Permanence: Resolving Land Allocation Issues in Kampung Wawasan
> (call-in) Mr. Nicol from Kuching – Concerns about the mandatory use of Malay arising in Sarawak
Topik Pada Hari Ini
> Roland Engan, Peguam Hak Asasi Manusia – Pemimpin Ba Pakan Dipecat Kerana Bantah balak: Orang Kampung Menolak Penggantian
> Nick Kelesau, Ketua NGO Keruan – Pembalakan dan Empangan: Versi Abang Jo mengenai Ekonomi Hijau?
> Remould Siew dari Tahabas – Ke Arah Kekal: Menyelesaikan Isu Peruntukan Tanah di Kampung Wawasan
> (Panggilan masuk) En. Nicol dari Kuching – Keberimbangan tentang Penggunaan Wajib Bahasa Melayu di Sarawak
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*Special Randau*
1. Hilman Idham's (Azmin Ali's team) victory in the Selangor State Assembly (DUN) for Gombak Setia will be challenged in court next Monday. Hilman won by a slim majority of 58 votes. In addition to Gombak Setia, Azmin's team also won narrowly in three other areas: Dengkil with 407 votes, Sungai Kandis with 167 votes, and Taman Medan with 30 votes. There are allegations from Hilman's side regarding vote count manipulation.
2. "The appointment of village or community leaders should not be under the authority of State Assemblymen (YB ADUN) or Residents. The call from PKR Sarawak Chairman - Roland Engan - is for village leaders to be appointed by the people of the village themselves.
3. PMX Anwar Ibrahim urges the acceleration of all public facility projects without any excuses. Anwar is in Sabah for the groundbreaking ceremony of the Ulu Padas hydroelectric dam project. This dam is being built to generate electricity and supply water. For Sarawak, the number of dams is already more than needed. We in Sarawak want schools, roads, bridges, and modern basic amenities.
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Roland Engan, Human Rights Lawyer
*Ba Pakan Chief Removed for Environmental Stance: Village Rejects Replacement*
The Miri High Court will make a decision on 9/1/2024 for the case of judicial review against the appointment of Sakaria Padda as tribal leader for the Ba Pakan, Baram penan. A few months ago - 6 applicants, led by Julian Joy Singa - requested that there be confirmation or not of the appointment of Sakaria Padda as tribal leader.
Previously, Kampung Ba Pakan appointed Padda Jutang (father of Sakaria Padda) as the tribal leader for the village of Ba Pakan. But Pada Jutang is an anti-logging person. When a logging company wants to log in the Ba Pakan area, Padda Jutang will oppose. Therefore, there is a need to change/replace him. So Sakaria Padda was suggested by the Miri Resident Office. Immediately after being appointed. Sakaria Padda continues to deal with logging companies that want to log in the Ba Pakan area. While the majority of the Penan Ba Pakan people are against logging. It is understood that counsel for both parties have argued in the oral hearing on 6/12/2023 - before high court judge Yang Arif Tuan Dean Wyne Daly.
Roland Engan represented 6 applicants while Sarawak Attorney - Mr. Justin Lau represented the respondent. There are 4 respondents namely; Sakaria Padda, Miri Division Resident, Sarawak Government Secretary and Sarawak Government. Roland thinks, to solve the problem appoint a tribal leader in the future. The decision of the majority at the village level should be respected by the government or the Resident's office. The Resident's Office should accept anyone appointed at the village or longhouse level. The state government, YB and resident officials should not be involved in choosing who the tribal leader they like.
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Nick Kelesau, leader of Keruan NGO
*Logging and Dams: Abang Jo's Version of Green Economy?*
Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Tun Openg has arrived in Dubai for the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) on 6 Dec. He is set to witness the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between InvestSarawak and Surbana Jurong Pte Ltd. The MOU signifies collaboration in the state's green economy initiatives, focusing on environmental sustainability.
Regarding Abang Jo's active promotion of the green economy, Nick Kelesau expresses significant contrast in Abang Jo's ideas and actions. He states that the GPS state government led by Abang Jo is actively involved in logging and dam construction, activities that harm the environment. The so-called promotion of the green economy, according to Nick Kelesau, is actually contributing to the destruction of forests.
He points out that the remaining forest areas are small, especially in areas like Baram Inland and Limbang Inland. Despite efforts by inland residents to protect the forests and demarcate areas for preservation, active logging companies are still present, attempting to persuade village chiefs to allow them access for logging. The conditions offered include money, housing construction, road development, and other incentives to entice village chiefs to permit logging in the area.
These situations have been ongoing, but there is no visible government intervention to stop them. Nick Kelesau mentions that opinions among inland villagers regarding dam construction vary. Some are deceived by the government's sweet words, believing that the construction of dams will bring roads, job opportunities, and new longhouses. However, Nick advises those in favor of dam construction to visit the resettlement areas in Murum and Bakun to see if the future is as they imagined.
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Remould Siew from Tahabas
*Towards Permanence: Resolving Land Allocation Issues in Kampung Wawasan*
On December 6th, Remould Siew, together with Tr. Edy and a few others, visited the Jutamas Oil Palm plantation company to further discuss their situation. The company has agreed to allocate a lot for them to stay in the areas where their respective houses and a longhouse, consisting of 18 families (including 3 individual houses) in Kampung Wawasan, batu niah, were built prior to the implementation of the oil palm plantations. The community has occupied the area since 90s, and now they are allowed to stay there permanently. The government has also contributed funds to the community to build the longhouse. The Penghulu and their State Assemblyman (YB) made efforts to issue a letter to the company.
One crucial aspect of today's meeting was to exclude the community from the company's PL (Plantation License) or to provide the community with enough surrounding compound called "Payong Rumah." The manager agreed to this condition, and he mentioned that he would bring the letter to their superior for approval. Both parties aimed to resolve the situation in a win-win manner. The area is not far from the school and clinic. However, the current issue lies in the poor condition of the access road to the settlement.
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(call-in) Mr. Nicol from Kuching
*Concerns about the mandatory use of Malay arising in Sarawak*
Mr. Nicol has expressed his views on the issue of the Malay language, which has become a hot topic on social media following the statement by the Minister of Home Affairs that those who are not proficient in the Malay language will not receive services.
Mr. Nicol emphasizes that if the Malay language is obligatory according to the constitution, he questions how this aligns with the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), which has not been implemented for Sabah and Sarawak for a long time. The people of Sarawak do not consider Malay as the primary language in Sarawak because English is regarded as prioritized. Moreover, in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN), English can be freely used.
It is disappointing if Malayan culture were to spread to Sarawak.