8 August 2024
On Today Show
— Dennis Along, President of Tering Miri Community Association – From Logging to Carbon Trading: Tering-Berawan Question Government's Intentions
— Freddie Wan from Baram, Long Tebangan – Political Threats and Broken Promises: Villagers Challenge to Baram Leader
— Mustafa Along, chairman of the Indigenous People's Network of Kelantan (JKOAK) – Orang Asli Reject PN: Focus on Land Rights in Nengiri By-election
Topik Pada Hari Ini
— Dennis Along, Presiden Persatuan Komuniti Tering Miri – Dari Pembalakan ke Perdagangan Karbon: Tering-Berawan Mempertikaikan Niat Kerajaan
— Freddie Wan dari Baram, Long Tebangan – Ancaman Politik dan Janji Yang Tidak Ditunaikan: Penduduk Cabar Pemimpin Baram
— Mustafa Along, Pengerusi Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Kelantan (JKOAK) – Orang Asli Tolak PN: Fokus kepada Hak Tanah dalam Pilihan Raya Kecil Nengiri
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Special Randau
1. The National Park is used as an excuse to seize people's land. Thus Dennis Along's statement criticized the action of the Sarawak state government through the SFC to propose the expansion of mulu national crops to the settlement and farming areas of the people in Mulu. This area used to be a former logging area. So what is the importance of turning a former logging area into a national park, asked Dennis Along.
2. Sarawak Premier - Johari Openg is not only the highest paid state chief executive in Malaysia - RM54,000 per month. But he is the chief executive of the state holding the most power in the state cabinet. Apart from being the premier of Sarawak. Johari Openg also held the positions of minister of finance and new economy, minister of urban development and natural resources and minister of energy and environmental sustainability. Does Johari Openg also receive a salary from these ministerial positions?. Contact us if you have information.
---------------------------------------Dennis Along, President of Tering Miri Community Association
From Logging to Carbon Trading: Tering-Berawan Question Government's Intentions
Today, almost all local newspapers in Sarawak reported the Tering-Berawan community's protest against the expansion of the Mulu National Park to include the Tutoh Apoh area, which is set to be named Tutoh Apoh National Park. Despite the general purpose of national parks being to protect biodiversity, ecosystems, endangered habitats, flora, and fauna, and to avoid excessive development, the Tering-Berawan community objects to this expansion. According to Dennis, this is not the intention of the Sarawak government through the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC).
Dennis explained that all the areas proposed for the expansion of the Mulu National Park are the lands of the Tering-Berawan communities, which have been damaged and logged by logging companies. This area was previously given as a logging concession to Abu Bekir Taib through Radian Lagoon and is now proposed to be changed into a national park. Dennis believes that the SFC has hidden intentions, either to seize their native customary rights (NCR) land or to cover up the damage caused by previous logging activities. He highlighted that this area is crucial for agriculture and residential purposes. If the area is entirely converted into a national park, the community would struggle to find food and forest products. Dennis noted that the current Mulu National Park is already extensive, covering 52,000 hectares, compared to the 4,400 hectares of NCR land they are defending.
Dennis suspects that the Sarawak government, through the SFC, intends to gazette the land as a national park and later convert it into a carbon trading zone. Yesterday, Dennis and his friends visited the SFC office to deliver a protest letter, demanding the proposed expansion be cancelled. They were informed by the Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (SADIA) that residents in Batang Ai are also protesting the expansion of Batang Ai National Park in Lubok Antu.
Regarding the Sarawak Premier's proposal to tighten environmental and national park laws to include fines and prison terms, Dennis expressed his full support. However, he insisted that the law should not only be used against the weak. He pointed out that the logging licenses are issued by members of the GPS party, implying that the Premier should first act against his own party members.
---------------------------------------Freddie Wan from Baram, Long Tebangan
Political Threats and Broken Promises: Villagers Challenge to Baram Leader
Freddie Wan expressed his concern about the rampant corruption in the area. He believes that for the people of Baram to achieve better progress, corruption between elected representatives (YB) and village leaders must be eradicated for the sake of the people's well-being.
He pointed out that as long as corruption persists, the welfare of the people cannot be guaranteed. For example, the bridge leading to Long Tebangan was originally promised to be made of iron according to the initial agreement, but instead, a wooden bridge was constructed. If the community leaders and elected representatives had been firm from the start, the logging companies would have adhered to their agreements. However, due to monetary bribes, the community ended up with a wooden bridge.
Freddie also criticized the overall performance of the elected representatives in Baram, stating that they do not work seriously for the benefit of the people. Although not all elected representatives are negligent, the overall achievements for the people of Baram have been inadequate. When government projects or allocations are managed by intermediaries, be they YBs or community leaders, the allocated funds do not match the amount received by the people due to corruption, which has become a pervasive problem among leaders.
Freddie also highlighted the issue of political threats, which have become a concerning practice. People are often threatened with the withdrawal of projects if they do not support certain leaders. He emphasized that YBs should not practice political threats, as it is the people who grant them power. He cited the phrase "No Dam, No Road" as an example of such threats. Despite receiving millions in allocations each year, if a YB were honest, the people would have enjoyed progress long ago. Recently, the Deputy Premier allocated RM15 million for repairing bridges and roads in Baram, which Freddie considers insufficient, given Baram's size comparable to the state of Pahang.
To address these issues, Freddie outlined several steps:
1. Eradicate Corruption: Eliminate corruption between the villages and logging camps.
2. Stop Misappropriation of Funds: Ensure that allocations provided by YBs are not misused.
3. Responsible Leadership: Community leaders must be responsible and not complacent just because they receive a salary.
4. Vocal Advocacy: Leaders must courageously voice the problems faced by villagers and not become puppets for logging companies and YBs.
Freddie believes that if community leaders in each village can follow these steps, significant progress and change will come to every village in Baram. He emphasized that leaders should prioritize the community's interests over personal gain and remember that their position comes from the villagers, not themselves. If a leader's community is only filled with livestock and not people, they would not be able to sustain a village. He urged leaders to be grounded in reality, asserting that the actions they take will have consequences in this world and the hereafter.
Freddie also mentioned a past agreement with the Interhill logging camp, where an iron bridge was promised. However, due to corruption between the logging company and the village, this promise was never fulfilled, and the bridge remains wooden. He urged for the elimination of such corrupt practices to ensure promises are kept. He called for leaders to speak up and pressure the logging companies, rather than negotiating behind the scenes. He stressed the importance of fighting for justice with courage.
---------------------------------------Mustafa Along, chairman of the Indigenous People's Network of Kelantan (JKOAK)
*Orang Asli Reject PN: Focus on Land Rights in Nengiri By-election*
In the upcoming Nengiri By-election, the Orang Asli voting trend, based on previous elections and by-elections in Kelantan, has traditionally favored Barisan Nasional. However, the recent statement suggesting that the Orang Asli are now favoring PN is not entirely accurate, according to Mustafa. He argues that, given several incidents and ongoing issues over the past five years, the Kelantan PAS government has failed, particularly in securing Orang Asli land rights. For the Nengiri By-election, we are observing our comrades in interior villages such as Pos Bok, Pos Simpoh, Pos Basik, and Jias, who are supporting the land rights struggles. Therefore, the Orang Asli will not favor PN. The Kelantan government has not demonstrated any significant effort to ensure the rights of the Orang Asli thus far. Hence, there is no significant voting trend in favor of PN.