9 July 2024
On Today Show
— Nick Kelesau Naan, Spokesperson of the Penan Keruan Organization, Baram Sarawak – Conflict Over Forest Conservation: Penan Communities Reject Logging Licenses
— Tingkun from Kampung Sayap, Kota Belud – Victory for Community Land Rights in Kota Belud
— Mr. Robert, a social activist from Bintulu – Reflections on the Sg Bakap By-Election: Challenges and Calls for Action
— Jeffrey Baudi from Sabah – Advocating for Indigenous Rights: Lessons from Sarawak
Topik Pada Hari Ini
- Nick Kelesau Naan, Jurucakap Pertubuhan Penan Keruan, Baram Sarawak – Konflik Mengenai Pemuliharaan Hutan: Komuniti Penan Menolak Lesen Pembalakan
- Tingkun dari Kampung Sayap, Kota Belud – Kemenangan Hak Tanah Komuniti di Kota Belud
- Encik Robert, seorang aktivis sosial dari Bintulu – Refleksi mengenai Pilihan Raya Kecil Sg Bakap: Cabaran dan Seruan untuk Tindakan
- Jeffrey Baudi dari Sabah – Mengadvokasi Hak Asasi Orang Asli: Pengajaran dari Sarawak
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Special Randau
1. 18 Penan communities in Hulu Baram protest logging by Borneoland Timber Resources sdn.bhd in their forest reserve. They demanded that the state government cancel the logging license issued and asked the logging company to respect the voice of the majority who objected to the logging.
2. PMX Anwar Ibrahim asked all ministers, government officials and chief secretaries of the state government to monitor every village in Malaysia to find out their problems. Therefore, according to PMX, the government launched the Madani village program to be able to see the problems of the villagers wherever they are. We hope that the problems of Penan residents in Ba Data Bila Hulu Baram can be reported to the prime minister and appropriate action can be taken.
3. Muhyiddin Yassin's court case hearing. Muhyiddin Yassin's application for a review of the appeal court decision which returned four charges of abuse of power and 3 charges of money laundering in the Jana wibawa program - rm 232.5 million will be known on 20 August.
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Nick Kelesau Naan, Spokesperson of the Penan Keruan Organization, Baram Sarawak
Conflict Over Forest Conservation: Penan Communities Reject Logging Licenses
Nick confirmed the news reported by BMF that logging by Borneoland Timber Resources Sdn. Bhd. started a few weeks ago. Before this, there were several meetings and negotiations between the logging companies and 18 Penan communities upstream of Baram. The majority of Penan communities did not agree to the logging in their forest area. Residents of Long Lamam, Long Ajeng, and Long Benaleh sent letters of objection to Borneoland Timber. However, only the family of Village Chief Ba Data Bila, specifically Village Chief Sedin Laeng, agreed to the logging for their own reasons, allowing Borneoland Timber to start the operation.
The Penan people in this area (Selaan) strongly object to the logging because they depend entirely on the forest for their livelihood. Additionally, this area is part of the UBFA development plan - Ulu Baram Forest Area - a forest conservation area developed through the ideas and wishes of the community. Therefore, Nick appealed to the state government to cancel the logging license in the UBFA area and respect the voice of the majority of the Penan people. He mentioned that they would give a little more time for the workers to resolve this logging issue before setting up a blockade.
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Tingkun from Kampung Sayap, Kota Belud
Victory for Community Land Rights in Kota Belud
In 2017, Mr. Tingkun was arrested by Sabah enforcement officers while tending to his own garden. At the time, over a hundred community members were defending their Native Customary Rights (NCR) in the area, but only Tingkun was arrested. He was detained for three days at Kota Belud Police Station.
The conflict stemmed from a land dispute between the Kpg Sayap communities and Taman Sabah. In 1972, the first area (rantis) was recognized as Taman Sabah, while the second area (rantis) was recognized as community NCR. This left the communities trapped in the first area and facing intimidation from enforcement officers.
Despite this, the communities continued their daily activities in 2011. In 2017, while engaged in farming activities, Tingkun was arrested again. Authorities demanded a compound fine of RM4,500.00, and although they offered installment payments, Tingkun refused to pay, insisting he had done nothing wrong and was simply engaging in normal farming activities.
The case was first heard in 2019 before the Magistrate in Kota Belud and was finally decided in 2024, ruling in favor of Mr. Tingkun. He was represented by Ram Singh.
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Mr. Robert, a social activist from Bintulu
Reflections on the Sg Bakap By-Election: Challenges and Calls for Action
Mr. Robert together with RFS, commented on Nyak's disappointment with the results of the Sg Bakap by-election, where PH lost ground to PN despite increasing their majority. This was due to internal strife within UMNO, where split votes did not entirely favor PH. The animosity between DAP and UMNO was seen as the cause of the Harapan candidate's defeat. This message serves as an encouragement to the MADANI government to work harder on issues important to the people. For Sarawak, PH should not underestimate the upcoming elections, as this is a mission that all PH supporters must undertake. Issues that benefit the people should be equally prioritized by PH, rather than focusing excessively on attracting foreign investors, which may neglect the welfare of the people.
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Jeffrey Baudi from Sabah.
Advocating for Indigenous Rights: Lessons from Sarawak
Jeffrey Baudi as a participant in the Community Voice forum, shared his experience over two days, which was a new and distinct experience in Sarawak, particularly for RFS as the organizer. The forum brought together NGOs and activists from diverse backgrounds to contribute their opinions as a unified voice for indigenous rights. Through this forum, Jeffrey Baudi was able to express aspirations and share issues faced by the oppressed in Sabah. In Sabah, there has not yet been any NGO conducting Community Mappings, but in Sarawak, such initiatives exist, and Jeffrey Baudi is very excited about the NGO movement in Sarawak. The strong unity aiming for recognition by UNDRIP and the UN is an example, even though many NGOs are not favored by the government. This is because Sarawakian NGOs strongly advocate for the indigenous peoples of Sarawak, and Jeffrey Baudi plans to share this example with his peers in Sabah. The courage of the RFS team is highly praised.