By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 7: The Tering community of Long Terawan, who have settled in Mulu since time immemorial, has expressed their opposition against the proposed extension of the Mulu National Park.
In their letter to Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) dated today, the Miri Tering Community Association chairman Dennis Along stated that the land area subject to the proposed extension involving Tutoh Apoh National Park would encroach into their ancestral land.
Highlighting the grounds of objection, he explained the deep historical roots of the Tering and Berawan people in the Mulu area.
“The ancestors of Long Terawan were the Berawan and Tering people. Historically, these two communities were distinct and lived separately. The Berawan originated from Long Patah but expanded into Mulu, while the Tering have been settled in Mulu since ancient times. Their former villages include present-day Mulu National Park and surrounding areas such as The Marriott Mulu Resort Hotel and Mulu Airport,” he wrote.
He elaborated on the history of the Berawan and Tering communities, noting that the Berawan initially faced resistance from the Tering when they expanded into Mulu. After a series of conflicts, the two communities made peace, resulting in the formation of the Berawan-Tering community.
Dennis highlighted the Tering community’s long-standing presence in the area: “The occupation of the Tering in the Mulu area is known worldwide. In 1977, the Sarawak government granted permission to the Royal Geographical Society to conduct scientific research in Mulu to establish a natural reserve as a national park.”
This expedition was well-documented in two books by Robin Hanbury-Tenison, the expedition leader in ‘Finding Eden’ and ‘Mulu, The Rainforest’.
Finding Eden features photographs of community members who assisted Robin during the expedition.
The book also noted that Engan, a Tering, was appointed the first Warden of Mulu National Park. The expedition’s base camp site, now The Marriott Mulu Resort Hotel, was originally an old longhouse site set aside by Penghulu, later Temenggong, Baya Malang for Robin and his team of scientists.
“Prominent individuals in our community were documented in old editions of the Sarawak Gazette. These include Tinggang Malang, a Native Officer and elder brother of Temenggong Baya, and the sons of Penghulu Malang Lawai, also known as Penghulu Tama Tinggang Malang,” he said.
Other notable figures include Penghulu Belawing Ipoi, the first Penghulu from the Tering community, also known as Penghulu Tama Saging Belawing, and his son Saging Belawing, also known as Tama Udeng Saging, who was later appointed as Penghulu.
“Historical records of the Berawan-Tering community can also be found in many official memorandums from the colonial era,” he added.
Dennis highlighted that the land area in question was previously the subject of a lawsuit brought by the Tering community of Long Terawan and the Penan people of Batu Bungan and Long Iman against a private company, Forest Department, Land and Survey Department, the Sarawak government and others for encroachment on their native customary rights land.
Later, the Sarawak government requested for the lawsuit to be withdrawn after the registered leases granted to a private company were cancelled and annulled.
“This event serves as strong proof that our claims were genuine and substantial,” he stressed.
Inscribed by Unesco in 2000 as a World Heritage Site for its outstanding biodiversity and karst features, Mulu National Park has seamlessly integrated nature conservation, community involvement, and visitor education into its sustainable tourism model. — DayakDaily
