By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Dec 1: The proposal to gazette the Ulu Trusan Protected Forest will not erode the traditional rights of local communities, Deputy Minister for Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datuk Len Talif Salleh assured the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) today.
Responding to the Ba’Kelalan assemblyman Baru Bian, he stressed that the Forests Ordinance 2015 clearly protects community privileges, with traditional activities expressly listed under the Second Schedule to safeguard local rights even within a Protected Forest.
Len Talif said the government has been engaging the affected communities from the start. On Oct 16, 2024, the Forest Department of Sarawak (FDS) held a briefing and dialogue session in Lawas with community leaders, village chiefs and relevant agencies on the proposed Ulu Trusan Protected Forest.
This was followed by an Enquiry into Claims exercise from Oct 23 to 31 this year at Dewan Long Sukang, Lawas, where 216 individuals from 22 villages were interviewed.
“Communities were informed that the Ulu Trusan Protected Forest is still at the proposal stage.
“The proposed size of 120,845 hectares published in the preliminary gazette will only be finalised after taking into account all stakeholder views,” he said when delivering the ministerial winding-up speech in the august House.
Debating on the Supply Bill 2026 on Nov 26, Baru warned that the proposed gazettement of the Ulu Trusan area as a protected forest threatens the very survival of the Lun Bawang community, who depend on the forest for food, shelter and cultural continuity. – DayakDaily
