By DayakDaily Team
MIRI, Nov 13: The repeated postponement of a court ruling on logging activities in the Data Bila area of Sarawak’s Upper Baram has allegedly sparked growing frustration among local villagers and plaintiffs, who claimed they have been waiting months for resolution of their customary land rights case and greater transparency regarding the logging licence issued to a timber company.
The hearing, which concerns a judicial review of the company’s licence, has reportedly faced multiple delays since the case was filed in January 2025.
Plaintiffs, accompanied by a delegation of Penan supporters, travelled to Miri for the latest hearing only to be disappointed once again by what they described as a last-minute postponement.
According to the plaintiffs representing affected Indigenous communities, the repeated delays were “inconsistent with efficient and disciplined justice” and have allegedly prolonged the uncertainty surrounding their land claims.
Grassroots organisation Keruan director Komeok Jo expressed concern that this urgent matter was not being prioritised while logging activities continue unabated.
“Each postponement made without prior notice not only disrupts the proceedings for all parties involved but also undermines public confidence in the integrity of the judicial system,” he said in a statement today.
The judicial review was initiated by 11 Penan plaintiffs from Upper Baram, challenging the logging licence granted to the timber company. The disputed area reportedly overlaps with the previously planned Upper Baram Forest Area (UBFA), a community-led conservation initiative aimed at protecting the rainforest and safeguarding Indigenous livelihoods.
However, community representatives alleged that the UBFA project stalled after the licence was issued to the company “behind closed doors.” They further claimed that the licence has not been made publicly available, nor have any environmental or social impact assessments been disclosed for public scrutiny.
Residents from the affected areas have continued to voice their concern over what they described as “unchecked deforestation” and the ongoing destruction of their ancestral lands. Despite several complaints allegedly submitted to relevant authorities and the unresolved judicial review, logging activities are said to be continuing.
The plaintiffs and their supporters are urging for transparency, accountability, and for the court to finally proceed with the long-awaited ruling.
Residents hope the court will set a final date for the decision without further delay, so that justice can be carried out fairly, transparently, and with dignity.
The hearing, initially scheduled for Oct 30, was first postponed to Nov 12, and has now been rescheduled to Dec 2. — DayakDaily
