By Ling Hui
MIRI, March 27: Without logging roads constructed by logging companies, it would take days or even weeks to travel to the villages of Ulu Baram.
Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau said if not for the existing logging roads or the so-called ‘Baram Highway’ from Lapok to the interior, it would not be as convenient to go to any of the villages in Ulu Baram.
Though not as pleasant as tar-sealed roads like in the cities, he said, at least the logging roads allow local folk and other users to travel in and out from Ulu Baram, whenever necessary, within a day.
Dennis was hitting back at a recent protest by 47 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) who raised objections to the logging activities in Ulu Baram, claiming it to be destructive to the environment and the indigenous communities, which is the Penan.
Instead, he said, the logging industry in Ulu Baram has brought actual benefits to the Penan community, one of which is the connectivity or connection between Ulu Baram and the rest of Sarawak.
He said Penan youth these days are eager to leave home to work in towns and even cities, and the logging road is an easy way out for them.
“Today, if you put 10 Penan kids in front of you, I bet that probably only one would say he likes to stay in the ‘kampung’. The other nine would say they want to live in the town.
“Because they saw the struggles of their parents, living difficult lives. At least the youth these days can work in supermarkets, or even become graduates, become teachers, get paid good salaries,” Dennis told DayakDaily when met at a local hotel here today.
He also said that thanks to the logging industry that has been in Ulu Baram since decades ago, parents could earn sufficient money to send their children to universities.
Meanwhile, Dennis also stressed that logging activities in Ulu Baram are licensed and controlled, not illegal and excessive, as claimed by certain parties.
He said all logging activities in Sarawak are approved and audited by the Forest Department and Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC).
“Even to repair bridges, I have to write to the Forest Department to tell them we need 20 logs, and only then do they give authority to cut down trees.
“You cannot cut (the trees) anyhow. Another thing that is not told by the NGO is that Sarawak actually has a satellite monitoring system that overlooks its forests.
“It can detect if there are big-scale activities of cutting down trees,” he added. — DayakDaily
