By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Dec 28: The Sarawak government and the Land and Survey Department have been called upon to take immediate action to permanently halt the deforestation activities of a plantation company in the upper Belaga River, the last remaining forest area that the Kenyah and Penan communities depend on for their livelihood.
The forest clearing, which should have been completed by 2007, is still ongoing, sparking intense opposition from residents.
Senator Abun Sui Anyit, who is also the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Hulu Rajang branch chief, reported that the residents of Long Urun have been left with no option but to block the company’s operations in a bid to protect their land and natural resources.
“The company has been actively clearing forest areas in the region since November 2024, leading to strong resistance from the local community.
“The residents claim that these activities are in violation of the Provisional Lease (PL) granted to the company. Documents related to the PL show that the company has failed to meet several key conditions outlined in the lease agreement,” he said in a statement posted on his social media yesterday (Dec 27).
One of the main concerns raised by the residents is the company’s failure to meet the 10-year deadline for land clearing, which was set in the PL issued in 1997.
According to the terms, the land clearing should have been completed by 2007, but the ongoing deforestation demonstrates a failure by the government to enforce the PL’s conditions.
“The continued deforestation reflects the government’s failure to enforce the PL’s conditions, allowing the destruction of the forest.
“The demarcation of the land within the PL has also not been properly carried out, which overlaps with the community’s Native Customary Rights (NCR) land,” he elaborated.
Abun explained that the residents had not been informed by the company about any land demarcation efforts, which has only heightened their concerns.
The local community is urging the Sarawak government and the Land and Survey Department Sarawak director to take immediate action to stop the company from opening new areas, especially those that the company failed to implement over 26 years ago.
“They believe that immediate action is necessary to prevent irreversible damage to the region’s ecological balance, which would affect not only the Urun community but the entire Belaga district,” he added.
A meeting between the residents and the company was held on Dec 18, 2024, but no resolutions have been reached. Residents have also expressed concerns over the company’s refusal to provide meeting minutes, despite being invited to the session.
“We still hope that the Sarawak government will address this issue and stop the destruction of our land. The government must act to enforce the PL conditions and ensure the preservation of the land for future generations,” he stressed.
The residents emphasised that the forest is crucial for their survival, providing food and materials for traditional crafts, particularly for the Kenyah and Penan communities, who rely on the forest for sustenance.
“We must save the forest in the upper Belaga River. This is the last area along the river that is still intact, and it is essential for our survival,” he emphasised.
With the issue coming at a time when the Sarawak government is taking steps to combat corruption, Abun expressed hopes that this would lead to greater transparency and accountability in handling such matters.
“We hope the government will not allow corruption to hinder their efforts to protect the land from further exploitation,” he urged. — DayakDaily
