Adenan’s heart with people, state

http://www.theborneopost.com/2014/03/01/adenans-heart-with-people-state/

by Philip Kiew. Posted on March 1, 2014, Saturday

Adenan (second left) is at home in rural Sarawak in this picture taken in 2003.

HE REGARDS Sarawak as heaven on earth, cultural diversity and harmony.  As a former Minister of Agriculture and Food Industries Sarawak, he knows every nook and corner of the state, having intimate knowledge of their needs and peculiarities.

His continuous call for unity resonates throughout the state in multi-racial and religious settings, while his efficiency in the public service makes him stand out in the state’s political and social landscape.

Everyone has a different idea of who or what he is, but everyone agrees that he has a sharp analytical mind, is a brainy and decisive leader and an experienced hand in affairs of the state and it’s state of affairs.

After 35 years as elected representative and 28 years holding state and federal cabinet posts, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem is now ready to write the next chapter in leading Sarawak with effect from his swearing-in yesterday.

SUPP publicity and information secretary Datuk Sebastian Ting (left) extending his congratulations
to then CM-designate Adenan.

He is as public a figure as it gets in Sarawak, but has strangely remained an enigma to many who do not know him up close.

To those close to him, he is also known as a hotshot in game hunting in his younger days, a fishing enthusiast, an avid reader and a sci-fi movie buff.

To his immediate circle, he is a wonderful person; generous, compassionate, insightful and humorous.
To the political circle, he is a no-nonsense, incisive leader with the knack of reading one’s mind.

His eyes may be closed when the speeches are getting underway, but his brain is anything but idle.

His collected thoughts, wits and message collate into rib-tickling but flourishing speeches without fail at many functions he officiates.

His predecessor Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud on one occasion managed to lace an explanation and advice with humour in addressing complaints of aloofness against the former.

Saying Adenan had a heart of gold, Taib said this thinking minister was always so engrossed in his thoughts that he could literally walk into glass walls.

The minister was officiating a function in Miri when it was reported in the press, and with a laugh, he later told this author that a reply was in order.

His tongue-in-cheek riposte was: “I thank the Chief Minister for his kind words, and will try to remember not to walk into glass walls,” which was reported in the The Borneo Post and Utusan Borneo.

A decade ago in Buduk Nur in Ba Kelalan, he publicly declared having a soft spot for the Orang Ulu communities in the interior of Sarawak.

“I will always find an excuse to visit Orang Ulus since the days of Datuk Balan Seling and Datuk Racha Umong because I like them- simple as that,” he said, agreeing with the remark of his close friend and then Ba Kelalan state assemblyman, the late Datuk Dr Judson Sakai, that the minorities in Sarawak have a friend in Adenan.

Adenan is also a stickler for education and remaining true to one’s roots.

Years back, he told parents at a seminar in Lawas: “My mother was responsible for my becoming a minister, and she has always paid attention despite being illiterate, making sure that I ate, clothed and went to school.”

She also made it a point to monitor his conduct and progress from primary school to university level, but letting him enjoy the freedom to play after school.

On the political scene, he worked best behind the scenes with results which speak for themselves.
He was instrumental in bringing back Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) back into the BN fold after the Ming Court Affair in 1987, paving the way for political stability which has lasted to this day.

Under his watch as Chief Minister in this challenging transition period, Sarawak can look forward to responsible, matured and experienced leadership from Adenan and his team.

His conviction and approach is reflected in a speech he gave in 2005 at the opening of the Triennial General Meeting of PBB Marudi, Senadin, Piasau and Lambir divisions.

“The greater the power, the greater is the responsibility to uphold political stability and with power comes big responsibilities which you must carry as the biggest successful political party, “ he said.

A united front by PBB as the backbone of the state BN is expected by the Chief Minister cum party president in his call at the party’s supreme council meeting that all the senior leaders from president to vice-presidents should be returned uncontested for the sake of unity.

“This is to avoid any split and unhappiness which is bound to happen no matter what Hollywood (play-acting) and handshakes displayed before any contest,” said Adenan back then.

The smooth transition and unity in PBB despite the three horse-race for the Chief Minister post involving him, deputy president Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg and senior vicepresident Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan speaks of the inherent leadership policy of the party he will inherit.

“Our stand is to bring as many people with the same wavelength under one umbrella and that is the reason why PBB is the most successful party in the state while SNAP split to PBDS, PRS and whatever remains,“ he said in 2005.

Adenan’s experience in the last 35 years as elected representative and 28 years with ministerial portfolios has drummed home clearly the reality of minorities working together with the majority to keep up with the mainstream.

“You have to go with the flow or risk being left high and dry like debris on the river bank,“ he said.

Adenan (left) presenting a token of appreciation to Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on Feb 14, this year in Lundu as Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu (centre) looks on.

Speaking at a Rurum Kelabit function in Miri in 2005, Adenan said he made it a point that minorities tend to be marginalised, and he is inclined to use whatever high positions held to reach out to them- irrespective of whether they were Kelabits, Kayans, Lun Bawangs or even the small Indian community.

His Kelabit name is ‘Maran Ribet’ meaning ‘Handsome Nobleman’.

He was bestowed the name over a decade ago, and the community is likely to invite him for another name-changing ceremony to reflect his current status.

Admitting his love for the highland countryside, with its tranquility of nature in remote places, he said the peace and quiet is a refreshing experience for the weary mind, away from the hustle-bustle of the cities, the rat races and the madding crowd.

Don: Rural folk want map to determine land ownership

http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/09/25/don-rural-folk-want-map-to-determine-land-ownership/#ixzz2ftFwDR60

by Eve Sonary Heng, reporters@theborneopost.com. 

Posted on September 25, 2013, Wednesday

UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE: Sean Chai of Santumn Enterprise with the helicopter.

INNOVATIVE ICT APPLICATION: A Ba Kelalan photo-montage map.

LOW-COST: Unimas campus trials with the helium-filled balloon.

KUCHING: Rural communities are showing increasing interest in grassroots initiatives to develop maps of their territories.

In a statement yesterday, a visiting professor from the Institute for Social Informatics and Technological Innovation at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) Dr Roger Harris said in a recent Global Conference on Community Participatory Mapping on Indigenous Peoples’ Territories held in Samosir, North Sumatra, indigenous groups from countries including Malaysia, Nepal, Panama, Mexico and Brazil, explained how they had adopted affordable, high-tech mapping technology to retrace the history of their land ownership and to catalogue their natural resources.

He said in Sarawak, eBario Sdn Bhd, the organisation that operates the multi-award-winning eBario telecentre, has initiated the eBario Innovation Village Project as a living laboratory to incubate innovative grassroots applications of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) capable of stimulating development within Malaysia’s isolated rural and indigenous communities.

In partnership with Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) and with funding support from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the project is testing low cost aerial photography for community mapping, using digital cameras attached to tethered helium-filled balloons and radio-controlled model airplanes.

“The resultant photographs are stitched together by computer to form an aerial view covering a wide area which is then geo-tagged with global positioning co-ordinates to form detailed maps.

“Such maps can be used for a range of applications including land-use planning, claims for land rights, eco-tourism, development of agriculture, hydrology, animal migration plotting, indigenous knowledge inventories, environmental surveillance, documentation of climate change impacts, dispute resolution, road mapping, forest management and cataloguing of cultural sites. Low cost technologies and the skills to use them bring these applications within the reach of grassroots communities,” he said.

The eBario-Unimas team is working with Sean Chai Ching Loong of Santumn Enterprise, a local firm that specialises in aerial photography with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Using both helium-filled balloons and UAVs, the team has begun to generate high-quality photo-montages that form the basis of detailed maps.

This month, the team visited Ba Kelalan in the highlands of northern Sarawak to test their approach in the field.

Community representatives expressed their interest in the results and have asked the team to return to extend their coverage into surrounding areas.

“Detailed maps are generally not available to the general public, or they are either prohibitively expensive or insufficiently detailed for the purposes that rural communities would wish to use them.

“Modern maps are based on aerial photographs but with low cost technologies and contemporary computer software, rural folk need not be excluded from their use. Actually, aerial photographs provide a truer representation of reality than even the most detailed maps,” he explained.

As more ICTs become available to Malaysia’s rural communities, and especially to those in isolated and remote locations, as with the eBario initiative and its sister projects in Ba Kelalan and other locations, so the residents can be facilitated towards more activities which they themselves prioritise and which cater to their specific needs.

Sarawak pays price of 'third world maintenance'

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/242094

25.09.13

By Dukau Papau

Several water treatment plants and windmills in rural Sarawak are “not functioning”, according to state PKR head Baru Bian, who wants the government and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to step in.

The projects, which have cost millions of ringgit to build, install and operate, are under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry.

Bian cited the example of a water treatment plant in his constituency of Ba’Kelalan in Lawas, which had cost the government more than RM3 million to build.

“The plant is (meant) to pump water from Sungai Muda into tanks where it is then filtered to supply clean water to the Budur Nur village of more than 70 households. But untreated and murky water has (been) supplied to the households.

“Now there is no money to buy diesel - costing about RM1,000 a month - to run the plant, which is not maintained at all. I’m told there are a few of these in Sarawak, and there are similar problems at each.”

Bian also highlighted the case of windmills, including three in Bario, which are not working and therefore unable to generate electricity for villages.

“Each windmill is worth RM6 million. Imagine, these were constructed at the foot of a hill where there is no wind ... one has (even toppled over),” he said, noting that windmills in other countries are either located on a hilltop or in an open area.

“The construction of (all) these projects (in Sarawak) is a clear waste of public funds. The amount spent could well run over RM100 million.

“This money should have been used to repair schools or teachers’ quarters in my constituency that are badly in need of repair.

“In one primary school in my constituency, the teachers and parents came up with their own money to repair the teachers’ quarters, as their request for funds was not met.”

Bian said he believes the projects were implemented to pacify the rakyat who have been angry that they have been neglected.

“This tactic was done during election time,” he said, accusing the BN government of wasting public funds as well as “cheating the people”.

Natives threaten army with court injunction

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/12/07/natives-threaten-army-with-court-injunction/

Joseph Tawie | December 7, 2012 

KUCHING: Angry villagers in Ba’Kelalan have threatened the Malaysian Royal Army Engineers Regiment with a court injunction if they persist in building the Ba’kelalan-Bario road.

 The construction of the RM40 million road connecting Ba Kelalan to Bario in Sarawak, at the cost of an essential water catchment area has angered local villagers.

“If need be, we will apply for a court injunction to stop the army contractors from proceeding with the road construction,” said Baru Bian, a lawyer and Ba’Kelalan assemblyman.

Bian said that he had written to the chief of the Armed Forces that the villagers did not want the road (Ba’Kelalan-Bario road) as it passes Sungai Muda, which is a water catchment area.

The villagers have instead proposed that road be built from Belingi-Lepo Bunga-Bario. This would then safeguard the catchment area.

“The villagers have objected to the road being built through Sungai Muda as it would affect the water catchment area at Sungai Muda,” he said.

Bian, who is Sarawak PKR chief, said he was disappointed with army’s reply that only a few people were against the road construction while the majority of the villagers were for it.

“The folks in Ba Kelalan wants to protect Sungai Muda because its destruction would affect the lives of about 2,000 villagers from Punan Kelalan, Long Muda, Long Kumap, Long Langai, Long Lemutut, Buduk Nur, and SK Ba’Kelalan, an international award winning school,” he said.

In the letter, the army also said that the few people who rejected the road were the supporters of the Bian and that it reflected a very bad image.

“I have submitted a list of 152 villagers who are against the construction, and I will be calling for a big meeting in Ba’Kelalan on Dec 16, 2012,” said Bian.

“If the army still persists in carrying out the construction, we will apply for an injunction. It is  typical  of the BN mentality to blame the problem on the opposition.”

What about NCR rights?

On the reason given by the army that it is a ‘security road’ having its strategic importance to the forward operation base along the border to Lapo Bunga Cam, Bian said that it appeared that the army refused to listen to the people.

“Are they are serving the people or are they serving their own interest?” he asked.
He also questioned whether the road was properly planned as there was no EIA report and did not appear to involve the state authorities.

“And what about the native customary rights land of the people? Have they been excised out? My suspicion is that the project is improperly done and I urge the army to listen to the people,” he said.
Last month the villagers set up a blockade at Pa’Patar and Arur Lutut which is near the water catchment area called Sungai Muda.

The villagers claimed that contractors had already cleared about a kilometre stretch of the jungle despite their disagreement to have the road built through Sungai Muda.

The villagers told reporters last month that the army had explained to them that they opted for the Sungai Muda route because it is 20km shorter than the Belingi-Lepo Bunga-Bario route, and thus would incur less cost.

The villagers, however, did not buy that story because the Belingi-Lepo Bunga-Bario route is already there and merely needed small improvements, such as culverts.

The construction of the RM42 million Ba Kelalan-Bario Road started on Oct 1 and is expected to be completed by Sept 2014.

Defence minister Ahmad Zaidi Hamidi said army would implement the project under the Blue Ocean Strategy, and the road was a continuation of the 75km Long Luping-Ba Kelalan Road which was completed in September last year.

Villagers set up blockades to halt Ba Kelalan-Bario Road project

http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/11/12/villagers-set-up-blockades-to-halt-ba-kelalan-bario-road-project/#ixzz2BzoqQHYp

Posted on November 12, 2012, Monday

BLOCKADE: Ba’ Kelalan folks set up a blockade near Sungai Muda.

BA KELALAN: Cheesed off for being kept in the dark by the government and their elected representatives, about 20 villagers in Ba Kelalan set up blockades last Thursday to thwart construction of the Ba Kelalan-Bario Road before it destroys their water catchment area.

The blockade was erected at Pa’ Patar and Arur Lutut, which is near the water catchment area called Sungai Muda.

Villager Paren Padan claimed that the contractors had already cleared about a kilometre stretch of the jungle despite the villagers’ strong disagreement to have the road built through Sungai Muda.

“During a meeting which was held when Lawas MP Dato Henry (Sum Agong) came here, we agreed that the road be built through Belingi-Lepo Bunga-Bario because it would not affect our water catchment area in Sungai Muda.

“However, since then we have not received any more information or official word from the government, Henry nor Ba Kelalan assemblyman Baru Bian,” he claimed.

Paren added that his people sincerely hoped that the government would build the road through Belingi-Lepo Bunga-Bario, and urged their elected representatives to keep them updated on the latest happenings.

Construction of the RM42 million Ba Kelalan-Bario Road started on Oct 1 and is expected to be completed by Sept 2014.

According to a Bernama report in September, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zaidi Hamidi said heavy machinery from the Royal Army Engineers Regiment were already in Ba Kelalan to implement the project.

Ahmad Zaidi was quoted as saying that the project came under the Blue Ocean Strategy, and was a continuation of the 75km Long Luping-Ba Kelalan Road which was completed in September last year. That project, like the Ba  Kelalan-Bario Road project, is also a Jiwa Murni project.

The folks in Ba Kelalan are all out to protect Sungai Muda because its destruction would affect the lives of about 2,000 villagers from Punan Kelalan, Long Muda, Long Kumap, Long Langai, Long Lemutut, Buduk Nur and SK Bakelalan – an international award winning school.

Villagers told reporters last month that the Royal Army Engineers Regiment had explained to them that they opted for the Sungai Muda route because it is 20km shorter than the Belingi-Lepo Bunga-Bario route, and thus would incur less cost.

The villagers, however, did not buy that story because the Belingi-Lepo Bunga-Bario route already exist and merely needed small improvements, such as culverts.

‘Include social component in EIA study’

http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/10/27/include-social-component-in-eia-study/

Posted on October 27, 2012, Saturday

KUCHING: The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study on the Ba Kelalan-Bario road project should include a social component to document and identify cultural and historical sites.

Former Ba Kelalan assemblyman Datuk Nelson Balang Rining said the area surrounding the project was a former settlement of the Lun Bawang and Kelabit communities.

“Features like Batu Sinuped Perupun, Batu Nangan, Batu Barut, Beliau and Abang are found in the area apart from burial sites and old ruins of long houses. There is a request for the relevant agency to couduct such study,” he said when contacted yesterday.

On Oct 23, Balang who is also Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party secretary-general also responded to complaints of locals that the road project would affect the water sources of six villages and a primary school in the area.

The locals said destruction of the water catchment area at Sungai Muda would contaminate their drinking water, and water used for their paddy fields and livestock.

Balang pointed out then that the EIA study must be done as soon as possible and before the government proceed with the construction work. The EIA study should be conducted to make sure the area was not adversely affected.

Construction of the RM42 million Ba Kelalan-Bario road started on Oct 1 and is expected to be completed by September 2014.

The Royal Army Engineers Regiment is already in Ba Kelalan to carry out the project under the Blue Ocean Strategy – an extension of the army’s Jiwa Murni programme. About 2,000 villagers from Punan Kelalan, Long Muda, Long Kumap, Long Langai, Long Lemutut, Buduk Nur and an international award-winning school SK Ba kelalan will be affected by the project.

Current assemblyman Baru Bian claimed that the EIA study had not been conducted yet, so called on the government to listen to the needs of Ba Kelalan folks.

He added that since there was no extinguishment of NCR land status in the area, the (road) route did not have to be fixed and could be modified according to the people’s wish.

Baru who is State Parti Keadilan Rakyat chief, said they were not against development but want the road to benefit the people, not the contractors.

He went on to say that the villagers did not even mind sub-standard roads as long as one of their main water catchment areas in Sungai Muda was not destroyed.

“We have sub-standard roads from Lawas to Ba Kelalan but we don’t mind as long there’s a road. I want to make it clear that the people do not want their water catchment area and jungle destroyed because it is the source of their livelihood,” Baru said.

FORMADAT’s Trans-boundary Annual Meeting in Bario plants a future for a Sustainable Homeland in the Heart of Borneo

 http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/borneo_forests/news/?206207/FORMADATs-Trans-boundary-Annual-Meeting-in-Bario-plants-a-future-for-a-Sustainable-Homeland-in-the-Heart-of-Borneo

Posted on 18 September 2012

 On the July 25th 2012 in Bario, Miri, YBhg Pemanca Philip Lakai, Paramount Chief of the Kelabit officiated the 7th FORMADAT Trans-boundary Annual Meeting. 

 

FORMADAT is an Alliance of the Indigenous Peoples of the Highlands of Borneo. The alliance is a trans-boundary, grass-roots initiative started by the indigenous peoples in the Highlands in the Heart of Borneo (HoB), which include the Lun Dayeh/ Lun Bawang, Sa’ban and Kelabit. 

 

This year, the meeting was organised in conjunction with Bario’s annual Slow Food Festival, where FORMADAT celebrated with their local members its vision and heritage for their homeland. 

 

Mr. Lewi Gala Paru, Head of Indonesia FORMADAT outlined the vision for a sustainable future for Borneo. “We, the Indigenous People of the Highlands in the HoB, who share a common heritage and a common land as the Lun Dayeh, Kelabit, Lun Bawang, and Sa’ban people, come together in the Alliance of the Indigenous People of the Highlands of Borneo (FORMADAT) to: increase awareness and understanding about the highland communities, build local capacity and encourage sustainable development in the HoB”.

 

The highlands of Borneo comprise the Malaysian sub districts of Bario, Ba’kelalan and Long Semadoh in Sarawak, Long Pasia in Sabah, and the Indonesian sub districts of Krayan and Krayan Selatan in East Kalimantan. This area constitutes one geographical, environmental and cultural land in The Heart of Borneo, which is one of the few remaining places in South East Asia that still holds huge tracts of tropical rainforest. 

 

Penghulu George Sigar, Head of Malaysia FORMADAT, said: “We established FORMADAT in October 2004 as an indigenous organization to facilitate and share information, as well as to discuss common issues and strategies with regard to the future of the highlands. Our missions are to create awareness and understanding about the highland communities, maintain our cultural traditions, build local capacity and encourage sustainable development in the Highlands in the HoB, by protecting our natural resources and traditional knowledge. Our organization has been registered in Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysia, and Kalimantan in Indonesia. WWF-Malaysia and WWF-Indonesia has been our partner in helping us on conservation, livelihood and capacity building. We look forward to welcome more partnerships with the governments of Malaysia and Indonesia and other organization to support our initiatives towards achieving our sustainable conservation goals in the HoB”.

In conjunction with WWF-Malaysia and WWF-Indonesia in Bario, FORMADAT planted trees as part of the conservation activities. This year’s tree planting program was leaded by Y.B Dato Henry Sum Agong, Lawas Parliamentarian, and YBhg Datu Ose Murang, Deputy State Secretary of Sarawak.

 

Launched last year by YB Senator Dato Sri Idris Jala, the tree planting program has planted more than 3,000 local species trees such as Meranti, Agatis and many more.

 

Cr. John Tarawe, FORMADAT Coordinator in the Kelabit highland stated: “We, the FORMADAT, are actively promoting awareness on conservation and global warming. In some of our small ways, we promote tree planting and we hope the rest of the world will also do the same. And if everybody do the same, we believe that we’ll have a friendlier planet. We hope to promote ‘one visitor, one tree’ to all the areas in the Heart of Borneo. We love our homeland and want to sustain it”.

 

Dr Henry Chan, WWF-Malaysia’s Head of Conservation for Sarawak Programme said: “The tree planting activity symbolises a continuation of life. As the seedling mature and bear fruit, I hope FORMADAT will also be able to help the members achieve a sustainable future”.

Reconsider appeal for extra rural flights — Abang Johari

http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/06/24/reconsider-appeal-for-extra-rural-flights-abang-johari/

Posted on June 24, 2012, Sunday

MIRI: MASwings Rural Air Service (RAS) should reconsider the appeal for additional flights to rural areas, especially during festive seasons.

Tourism  Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Abang Openg said sufficient flights were vital to complement government efforts to promote tourism in rural areas like Bario highlands, Ba Kelalan and Mulu.

“The state-level ministry will collaborate with the Tourism Ministry at the federal level to discuss and look into this matter,” he said when officiating at a food sales to raise funds for Bario Nukenen Festival 2012 at Miri Civic Centre yesterday.

At the moment, MASwings’ 19-seater Twin Otter DHC-6 aircraft has only one daily flight to Bario.
“We hope flight regularity can be added, especially during the festive season or other big events such as cultural festivals. We were made to understand that a flight that carries 19 or less passengers at one time is insufficient,” he said.

Abang Johari said his ministry was also planning to hold discussions with Royal Brunei Airlines (RBA) and MASwings to come up with connecting flights to the three main attractions in the northern region: Bario, Ba Kelalan and Mulu National Park.

“We can come up with highland packages and through these, tourists will not only get to visit Brunei, but experience the beauty and hospitality of the three places,” he added.

According to him, Mulu is well known for its unique caves and limestone while Bario had breathtaking mountain views, and Ba Kelalan famous for its hotsprings in Merarap.

Touching on the upcoming Bario Nukenen Festival 2012, Abang Johari praised the effort of Rurum Kelabit Sarawak (RKS) for its commitment in organising the annual festival for the seventh year.

He urged Kelabit residents in Bario to continue producing a variety of products from the highlands, and be more creative to add value to the tourism sector.

“Bario folks are lucky as they have beautiful culture and breathtaking environment. Most importantly, Bario folks must make efforts to highlight and promote their uniqueness to the outside world,” he said.

At the function, Abang Johari announced a RM15,000 sponsorship for Bario Nukenen Festival 2012 while RM5,000 came from the Sarawak Tourism Board (STB).

The fundraising sales yesterday targetted to raise RM40,000 from the festival to be held from July 26 to 28.

Also present at yesterday’s event were Tourism Assistant Minister Datuk Talip Zulpilip; Semariang assemblywoman Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali; Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau; Miri  mayor Lawrence Lai; Political Secretary to the Minister of Energy, Green  Technology and Water, Datuk Sebastian Ting; Miri Resident Antonio Kahti Galis; RKS president Gerawat Gala and organising chairlady for the fundraising food sales, Councillor Kijan Toynbee.

Idris: New economic activities will stem tide of rural-urban migration

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/11/24/sarawak/9963728&sec=sarawak

Thursday November 24, 2011

By ZORA CHAN: zora@thestar.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: New economic activities need to be created in rural Sarawak, otherwise more youths will move to urban areas.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Idris Jala said areas like the highlands of Bario and Ba’Kelalan today saw a lower population as many had migrated to urban areas, leaving mainly the old to farm the land.

“Mass rural-urban migration among the younger generation is a problem in Sarawak and other parts of the country.

“We have to think how to get the young to stay on. We do not have the answers yet but hopefully we’ll have some solutions by early next year,” he said.

Seeking a solution: Idris at the dialogue session with community leaders and elders from Ba’Kelalan and Bario in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday.

Among others, the Rural Transformation Programme (RTP) would address this phenomenon by providing new economic activities as well as basic infrastructure in rural areas, Idris said during a dialogue with a delegation from Bario and Ba’Kelalan here on Tuesday.

The 32-member delegation comprised Lun Bawang and Kelabit community leaders and village elders, led by former Bukit Mas MP Mutang Tagal.

Earlier, the visitors and Lawas MP Datuk Henry Sum Agong paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, to thank the Federal Government for upgrading an abandoned logging road from Long Luping to Ba’Kelalan using soil stabilisation technology supplied by Hanayin Engineering Sdn Bhd.

The RM52mil project, spanning 75km, was completed in two years by the army under the Jiwa Murni outreach programme.

Idris, whose home town is Bario, said under the RTP, the Government would improve basic infrastructure like roads, water and electricity supply in the interior.

“With better infrastructure, it will be easier and more economical for farmers to sell their produce at the nearest town or city.”

Citing examples, he said Bario was also famed for its pineapples but it was difficult to sell them elsewhere in the absence of roads linking the highlands to the nearest town and neighbouring villages in Ba’Kelalan.

He welcomed suggestions from villagers to start new economic activities like empurau breeding and rubber plantations in the highlands, adding that such ventures had taken off successfully in Long Peluan, Ulu Baram.

Idris promised to push for the implementation of the Ba’Kelalan-Bario road so that folk in the area would enjoy better connectivity.

During the dialogue session, among others, Rurum Kelabit Sarawak vice-president Dr Philip Raja urged Idris’ ministry to consider turning the state’s as an agropol for the northern region.

He said the idea came about a few years ago from former Miri Resident Datuk Ose Murang and to date, no budget had been given towards this.

“The proposal also aims at transforming Bario into a town or semi-urban area,” he said, adding that such development would also boost tourism in the pristine highlands.

No one will be left out in nation’s march towards progress, says PM

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/11/23/sarawak/9957041&sec=sarawak

Wednesday November 23, 2011

by ZORA CHAN: zora@thestar.com.my

PUTRAJAYA: Barisan Nasional will keep its promise to bring development to rural areas, particularly in Sarawak, to ensure progress throughout the country.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the Government was committed to this through its ongoing Rural Transformation Programme.

“The Government understands the predicament of rural folk and their thirst for development.

“We’ll make sure that development in the country will be inclusive and people from every nook and corner will feel and enjoy the nation’s progress,” said Najib.

“When Barisan promises to do something, we are sure to deliver them,” he said when welcoming a delegation comprising Lun Bawang and Kelabit community leaders and village elders from the highlands of Ba’Kelalan and Bario to Seri Perdana here yesterday.

The 32-member delegation was led by Lawas MP Datuk Henry Sum Agong and it was, among others, aimed at thanking the Federal Government for upgrading an abandoned logging road from Long Luping to Ba’Kelalan using soil stabilisation technology, as well as to raise other urgent matters in Henry’s constituency.

The project, spanning 75km and included a few access roads to several villages, started in mid 2009 and was completed in September.

Ba’Kelalan is about 150km from Lawas. The stretch between Lawas and Long Luping remains a logging track.

Najib said the upgraded road between Long Luping to Ba’Kelalan was the first to use such a method, with help from the army through the Jiwa Murni community outreach programme.

He said if the Government used conventional method, it would cost about RM250mil and a few years to complete.

“This is a huge amount for a rural area with such a low population and deemed not feasible economically.”

“However, the people are desperate for the road and through the Jiwa Murni programme, the road has been sealed and this only costs RM52mil. This project also shows that the army and people are inseparable,” he said.

The upgraded road has shortened travel from Lawas to Ba’Kelalan from eight hours to three, and sometimes two days depending on road and weather conditions.

He said the impact of the project was tremendous to the people as villagers enjoyed lower transportation cost and cheaper daily necessities.

Giving examples, Najib said: “I was told that a can of soft drink used to cost RM3 but now it’s RM2, while a cylinder of gas that costs RM60 is now RM45 in Ba’Kelalan.”

Looking at this success, he said, more rural areas would benefit from the Defence Ministry’s Jiwa Murni programmes.

Therefore, more rural roads would be built with help from the army which is faster and cost effective compared to conventional methods by the Public Works Department.

Earlier, Henry said Lawas was in dire need of a new airport as the present one had limited space for expansion and was often flooded during bad weather.

“Lawas also needs a technical school that offers diploma courses because presently the area does not have such an institution for school-leavers.”

He said the highlands of Ba’Kelalan and Bario also required a primary school.

“The Bailey bridge over Sungai Pengalih along the Pan Borneo highway built under the Colombo Plan also needs to be upgraded as more and more heavy vehicles are using it.”

Henry added: “The people are also requesting for dirt roads / logging tracks connecting Ba’Kelalan and Bario, Ba’Kelalan and the border with Indonesia, and Lawas to Long Luping be upgraded as well.”

Cheaper by 75 per cent: Army builds 75km Long Luping-Ba Kelalan road for only RM52 million

http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/11/23/cheaper-by-75-per-cent/

by Philip Kiew. Posted on November 23, 2011, Wednesday

WELCOME: Najib greets the Kelabit and Lun Bawang community chiefs led by Sum (left) as they arrive at his official residence. – Photo by Jeffery Mostapa

Army builds 75km Long Luping-Ba Kelalan road for only RM52 million

PUTRAJAYA: The Long Luping-Ba Kelalan Road in Lawas has been hailed a new-breed project that reflects the perfect cooperation between the Public Works Department and the Armed Forces.

Built under the military’s ‘Jiwa Murni’ project, the 75km road costs only RM52 million, slashing 75 per cent from the estimated RM250 million if implemented by conventional contract.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the project was a new development concept which had never been carried out before.

“What attracts me and the government most is that the project, under the old thinking, would need to wait for quite some time as the allocation needed was substantial but it could be completed very quickly after we had taken the decision,” he said when receiving an entourage of Kelabit and Lun Bawang community leaders at Seri Perdana, Putrajaya yesterday.

The 41-member delegation led by Lawas MP Datuk Henry Sum Agong was there to thank the prime minister and the government for the road which was completed in September this year.

With the completion of the road, they said travelling time from Lawas to Ba Kelalan now only took about three hours compared to up to three days in the past.

Barely eight days after becoming prime minister, Najib sent his political secretary Datuk Shahlan Ismail to Ba Kelalan to assess the people’s needs and make recommendations.

“He came back with gruesome pictures of the road condition, and it would take a long time to resolve with the conventional concept, and that is why we decided that a new concept was needed,” Najib said.

Earlier, Sum in his speech thanked Najib for the road which the people had long been waiting for.

He also urged the prime minister to consider their request for funds for the new Lawas Airport, Bario-Ba Kelalan road, a secondary school in Ba Kelalan highlands, replacement of Pengalih bridge built under the Colombo Plan along the Pan Borneo trunk road, approval of a diploma-level technical institute in Lawas and minor projects such as village roads, bridges and jetties.

On behalf of the people, he also expressed their gratitude and appreciation to Minister of Defence Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi and officers from his ministry, Armed Forces, Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU), Sarawak Development Office and all those involved in the construction of the road.

Also present at the function were Zahid and top officials from the Armed Forces and its engineering corps, and Sarawak Development Office director Datuk Kamal Hussein.

Environment conservation vital to sustain life – Ose

http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/11/13/environment-conservation-vital-to-sustain-life-%E2%80%93-ose/

by Antonia Chiam. Posted on November 13, 2011, Sunday

KUCHING: Local communities have been reminded to always ensure an equilibrium between development and conservation prevails so that human activities do not destroy the environment that creates livelihood for them.

Deputy State Secretary Datu Ose Murang stressed that they should make sure that whatever they consumed or used did not infringe on the environment.

“I urge all communities to take note of environmental sustainability when planning for development,” he said at a promotional campaign for Adan Rice yesterday.

He added that while development is essential, conservation must be taken into consideration.

“Without a sustainable environment, there will be no satisfaction with our own lives. When we sustain the environment, we sustain our unique cultures too,” he said, citing fresh air that attracts city folk to visit the highlands.

On Adan Rice, Ose said all products from the heart of Borneo should be promoted and their traditional production methods protected.

“Local communities must ensure the catchment areas and water supply are well managed and well maintained in order to conserve our own production of rice in the highlands.”

The campaign was part of efforts by World Wide Fund for Nature Malaysia (WWF) and communities in the highlands of Sarawak and Sabah to promote the livelihoods of the local communities through sustainable small-scale agriculture.

This is done by developing specific and unique products from the highlands, such as Adan rice.

Adan rice is a local rice variety from the highlands of Borneo and is cultivated according to traditional methods by the Lun Bawang in Ba kelalan and Long Semadoh, the Kelabits in Bario, and the Lun Dayeh in Long Pasia, Sabah.

Its cultivation pays special attention on how it can affect the surrounding environment.

According to Ba’kelalan penghulu and Persatuan Masyarakat Adat Dataran Tinggi (Formadat) Sarawak and Sabah George Sigar Sultan, Adan rice had the finest grain and taste due to the elevation and the clear, unpolluted waters that irrigate the paddy fields in the highlands. There are three varieties: Adan Merah, Adan Putih and Adan Hitam.

“Harvesting is done at the end of December right until February. The seeds are planted once a year, and the rice takes 6 months to mature. With this promotional campaign, we hope that the general public will be more aware about this unique local rice, which is fresh, natural, and free from pesticides.”

Adan rice can be purchased at the booths during this two-day event which is supported by Bernas Corporation and Lun Bawang Association Sarawak.

MASwings to adopt ‘unique’ water village

http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/08/18/maswings-to-adopt-unique-water-village-latest/

by Sandra Sokial. Posted on August 18, 2011, Thursday

KOTA KINABALU: MASwings, which sees the potential of Kampung Tanjung Aru Baru as a tourist destination, has expressed interest to adopt the village.

Describing the water village as unique, MASwings managing director Datuk Captain Mohd Nawawi Awang said they have agreed in principal to adopt the village in response to the call yesterday by its Village Security and Development Committee chairman Matsah Saad.

“I do believe that the village has potential to be developed into a tourist destination. It is a water village and houses are built on stilts above the sea.

“It is very unique and is not available in many places,” Mohd Nawawi told reporters after presenting Hari Raya goodies to 100 underprivileged people from the village and Kampung Tanjung Aru Lama.

He said the adoption programme may be extended to two schools in Kundasang and Kudat, and currently talks are ongoing to discuss details of the programme which is expected to take off by this year end or early next year.

“This is part and parcel of our corporate social responsibility (CSR) project, dubbed the ‘Wings of Love’ which is aimed at reaching out to those in need, and focusing on three main fields, namely community service, education and environment,” said Mohd Nawawi.

He said similar project is carried out in Sarawak where MASwings, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines, has adopted two schools, one in Bekalalan and the other in Bario.

Touching on yesterday’s event, he said the two villages were selected due to its proximity to Kota Kinabalu International Airport.

In his speech earlier, Mohd Nawawi said he is willing to act as the middle person to bring the villagers’ grouses and concerns to the highest authority.

“We understand there are a lot of expectations from the people when we adopt a village, but it is part of our CSR. A lot of funds are needed to reconstruct a village, so being a corporate company, we can only help to forward what they need to the higher authorities,” he said.

Partnership aims to improve ICT in rural areas

http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/07/25/partnership-aims-to-improve-ict-in-rural-areas/


by Ghaz Ghazali ghazghazali@theborneopost.com. Posted on July 25, 2011, Monday


WIN-WIN PARTNERSHIP: Fitri (left) and Captain Nawawi pose next to a VSAT unit at the Ba Kelalan STOL port.

BARIO/BA KELALAN: The collaboration between Maxis Bhd (Maxis) and MASwings Sdn Bhd (MASwings) is slated towards developing the information and communication technology (ICT) connectivity in rural areas of East Malaysia.

With regards to this, MASwings had installed a number of satellite system VSAT (very-small-aperture-terminal) units at several ‘short take-off and landing’ (STOL) port stations in the state as part of its plan to enhance MASwings operational capabilities towards better services to its rural customers.

MASwings’ managing director Datuk Captain Mohd Nawawi Awang said the facility would, amongst others, allow the airline to use on-line data and telephony communications that would make internet access, automated check-ins, load-sheet processing and other reservation as well as e-ticketing applications possible.

“Under the first phase of VSAT project development, MASwings will make these services available in Bario and Ba Kelalan and to extend to other four STOL port stations — Long Akah, Long Seridan, Long Lellang and Long Banga — under phase two in the immediate future.

“We have installed VSAT facility in Bario and Ba Kelalan since December 2009; by which the project had benefitted MASwings and the communities at these two stations,” he told The Borneo Post during the launching of these VSATs in Bario and Ba Kelalan.

Apart from MASwings online operations, the VSAT units would also be used to set up basic GSM services for voice and SMS for the people of these rural communities.

Meanwhile, Maxis’ senior vice president and head of business services, Fitri Abdullah believed that the collaboration was truly a ‘win-win’ proposition by both companies; at the same time, benefitting the communities in the rural areas.

“It has been two years since I met up with Datuk Seri Idris Jala (then the managing director of Malaysia Airline, the parent holdings of MASwings) to discuss about the idea to set up VSATs with nano-based station system at STOL ports in rural areas within Sarawak and Sabah, serviced by MASwings.

“In saying this, we are proud to partner with MASwings to develop the ICT infrastructure here,” he said.

Nonetheless, Fitri disclosed that setting up the stations in both Bario and Ba Kelalan had been a different ball game for Maxis as both areas, until recently, had no regular electricity supply.

“As such, both MASwings and Maxis have agreed to invest in solar power-generated system in both areas. On our side, we have invested over RM100 million over the last 18 months to upgrade the capacity of these stations in both states.”

To date, Maxis has built 96 units of nano-based stations in rural areas throughout Sarawak and Sabah.

“We are expanding. The plan is that by this year’s end, we will have a total of 120 stations. With MASwings, we have done STOL ports in Bario, Ba Kelalan, Mulu and a few other places. I believe that there are a few more STOL ports in the two states that can benefit from the facility, so that not only MASwings will be better connected but also providing basic GSM services to the communities,” added Fitri.

On the newly-installed KU-band VSAT powered by Ipstar from Measat-5 in Bario, Fitri added that there was also a wi-fi hotspot, ranging within 40- to 50-metre radius around Bario town centre.

The speed of this VSAT set would be at one-megabyte up and two-megabyte down.

“Maxis’ aim has always been towards developing good ICT infrastructure not only in the urban areas, but also within the rural areas as well. While we also have one nano-based station in Ba Kelalan, we are positive that due to network necessity in Ba Kelalan, the Maxis technical will come here and perform a review to set up another VSAT in Ba Kelalan,” he stated further.

Adding to this, Captain Nawawi remarked, “Our partnership with Maxis has and will be benefitting towards our operations in remote areas, in terms of facilitating e-ticketing and bookings data transmission between these rural stations and the main offices in Kuching, Miri and Kota Kinabalu, as well as other centres.

“In line with our status as a community airline, we want to contribute to the community here.”

Bario-Ba’ Kelalan road project to complete by next year

http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/07/25/bario-ba%E2%80%99-kelalan-road-project-to-complete-by-next-year/

by Ghaz Ghazali ghazghazali@theborneopost.com. Posted on July 25, 2011, Monday

‘LET THE FEST BEGIN’: Idris Jala hits the ‘tubung’ – a traditional wooden instrument – to mark the launch of the annual Nukenen Food and Cultural Festival in Bario. Seen in the background (right) is Assistant Minister of Tourism, Datuk Talib Zulpilip.

BARIO: The construction of road connectivity between Bario and Ba’ Kelalan will run aggressively towards completion by the middle of next year, says Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Idris Jala.

He added that many key projects to facilitate the rural development of Bario and Ba’ Kelalan had already been approved by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

“Currently, the road from Ba’ Kelalan to Lawas is being built by our soldiers (Royal Malaysian Army) under the programme ‘Jiwa Murni’. Hopefully, it should be ready by the middle of next year, with the road construction from Bario to Ba’ Kelalan will go on from there,” he told reporters during the ‘Nukenen Food and Cultural Festival’ here, which ended last Saturday.

The annual four-day fair was launched by Idris Jala, with Assistant Minister of Tourism, Datuk Talib Zulpilip and MASwings Sdn Bhd’s (MASwings) managing director Datuk Captain Mohd Nawawi Awang were also present as guests of honour.

On investments for the road project, Idris Jala stated that the approved Bario-Ba’ Kelalan road project was valued at a total of RM40 million.

“Apart from the road, we have also received approval for the 24-hour electricity project for all of Bario. While I cannot state any offhand figures on the project value, I believe that the costs will be determined by the mode; either by solar or hydropower generation.

“What I can say is that some of it (project works) have begun this year, while most of it will go into full swing next year.”

Meanwhile, Idris Jala – also the chief of the goverment tranformation programme’s working vehicle, the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) – expressed his pleasure to see that the annual Nukenen Food and Cultural Festival had already garnered substantial interests amongst governmental agencies, foreign associations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) as well as tourists since its inception six years ago.

“I’m a Bario native. To see this festival being held independently by its own people really makes me proud. I understand that it had also generated interest amongst government bodies such as the Tourism Ministry as well as Fama (Federal Agriculture and Marketing Authority), especially on local produce such as the famous Bario rice and highland spring salt,” he enthused, adding that approved allocation for the Bario rice project had amounted to RM27 million.

Idris Jala was optimistic that with much basic infrastructure being implemented to date, Bario would emerge as a promising destination for many industries, amongst which would prominently include agriculture and eco-tourism.

“For instance, this food festival here – done by the community for the community – is one of many initiatives to fully commercialise the native products of Bario.

“Now with the air linkage provided by MASwings, which I regard as the ‘lifeline’ of Bario as well as the ICT infrastructure provided by Maxis Bhd, Bario can be linked to the world.

“Adding this to more infrastructure projects under the Government Transformation Plan (GTP) over the next few years, a lot more villages here will get good clean water supply as well as good accessibility by way of new roads,” he added.

Under GTP, allocation towards providing for the rural basic infrastructure programme throughout the country, including Sarawak, had been so far valued at about RM3 billion.

Bario Immigration Post and Quarters in Ba'Kelalan

http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v5/newsgeneral.php?id=578867

LAWAS, April 13 (Bernama) -- The Home Ministry will build the Bario Immigration Post and Quarters in Ba'Kelalan, and these are among the projects approved by the government for the ministry under the 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP).

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Tun Husesein said the RM20 million project was part of the RM59.6 million allocated for the implementation of 11 of the ministry's projects in Sarawak.

The construction of the Immigration post and quaters was also among the four new projects from the 11 Home Ministry Projects for Sarawak, while the rest were continuation of on-going projects, he said in the media statement here Wednesday in conjunction with his visit to Ba'Kelalan.

Hishamuddin said that in addition, three other new projects were the construction of the Mukah National Registration Department office and staff quarters (RM4 million), Spaoh (RM4 million) and Debak (RM3.5 million) but their locations had yet to be determined.

In addition, seven other on-going projects which were continuing were the construction of the Sg Tujuh Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex in Senadin costing RM16.5 million, Biawak Immigration post and quarters in Satok (RM4.6 million), Lubok Antu Immigration CIQ in Batang Ai (RM3 million).

The construction of the Mengkalap Immigration post and quarters in Lawas (RM1 million) and the Tedungan Immigration Post and quarters in Bukit Kota (RM2 million).

--BERNAMA

MASWings Lack of FLight Frequency Irks Ba' Kelalan Folks

http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v5/newsgeneral.php?id=577826

April 10, 2011

LAWAS, April 10 (Bernama) -- The decision by rural air service operator MASWings Sdn Bhd, a subsidary of Malaysia AIrlines (MAS), to cut down the flight frequency to Ba' Kelalan has come under fire from tourism operators and folks here.

MASWings has decided to cut down the flight frequency to Ba' Kelalan from Miri-Ba' Kelalan routes from the previous four times a week to the present three times a week, effective March 26.

MASWings flies from Miri to Ba' Kelalan with a brief stopever at Lawas airport using the 19-seater Twin Otter on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday every week.

But now it only flies to Ba' Kelalan famously renowned for its home grown apples, rice, and natural scenic highland on MOnday, Wednesday and Saturday.

Met by Bernama here, Lisa Buing, a tour coordinator from Miri-based Borneo Jungle Safari Sdn Bhd (BJS) said, many tourism operators here like homestay owners had voiced their displeasure over the decision by MASWings.

BJS is a well-known tour operator in northern Sarawak providing tour packages to Ba' Kelalan and operates the APple Lodge homestay in Ba' Kelalan.

Lisa said tourists were not keen on using logging and muddy roads leading to Ba' Kelalan as it was time-consuming.

"How else do we promote the tourism potential in Ba' Kelalan here if air accessibility is lacking?" he said.

If weather permits, the trip to Ba' Kelalan could be about nine hours but during rainy season it could take about 12 hours or more to reach Ba' Kelalan as the logging road would be slippery and dangerous going up the mountain.

BJS Operations Manager Rona Sultan said so far it had received four cancellations from local tourists after MASWings decided to cut down the frequency.

"They had booked the flight on Thursday but since MASWings only flies on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday then they had to cancel," she said.

"What is even more disappointing is that MASWings never mounts an extra flight to those who had booked the flight on Thursday," she said.

She said an official letter signed by 12 heads of communities in Ba' Kelalan pleading the government to reconsider reinstating the four times a week flight to Ba' Kelalan will be handed over to the government.

She said the letter is expected to be sent to the federal Transport Ministry also next week.

--BERNAMA

Fair recognition for highland products

http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=20155

Fair recognition for highland products

by Zoee Hillson

March 29, 2010, Monday


BA KELALAN: Products from the highland community in Borneo will finally be given fair recognition through the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) ‘Green and Fair Products (GFP)’ certification.

PREMIUM RICE: Pade Adan Item (black Adan rice).A GFP workshop organised by WWF in collaboration with Forum Masyarakat Adat (FORMADAT) Ba Kelalan held in Long Langai, Ba Kelalan has identified six products to be marketed as GFP.

Participants in the workshop helped by facilitators from WWF have identified Adan rice, salt, cinnamon, Tenem, Benamud and Jerangkau Merah as suitable to be marketed as GFP.

According to WWF Indonesia Social Development advisor Cristina Eghenter, these products will use WWF’s brand power to help promote it as GFP.

The packaging’s design will include the name of the product’s origin and WWF’s ‘Green and Fair’ logo.

Eghenter said to ensure fairness, it is important to include the name of the product’s origin.

“For example if the Adan rice (wet rice) comes from Ba Kelalan, it will be branded as ‘Organic Rice from the Highlands of Borneo-Ba Kelalan’ and vice versa for other areas designated as the ‘The Heart of Borneo’,” she said.

That way, she said all of the villages in the highlands of Borneo will get equal recognition for their products.

The move will also help promote areas in the highland for potential tourism purposes.
WWF Malaysia community liaison officer Dora Jok added that it is very important to educate the community that the rice is actually their identity, and that is why it is important for them to put the place of origin in the packaging.

The ‘Green and Fair Products’ workshop was held in Long Langai, Ba Kelalan to educate and expose the local community regarding GFP.

The workshop held on March 24 to 27 was attended by over 26 participants from Ba Kelalan, Krayan and Bario.

During the workshop, participants shared their knowledge and ideas on GFP and came out with an action plan for marketing and developing their GFP.

According to Eghenter, the development of GFP from the highlands of Borneo is one of the various efforts through the ‘Heart of Borneo (HoB) Initiative’ which was declared in 2007 between the governments of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Malaysia.

She said Long Semadoh, Ba Kelalan and Bario in Sarawak, Ulu Padas in Sabah and Krayan and Krayan Selatan in Kalimantan, Indonesia were identified as the highlands in the HoB.

The HoB initiative is a voluntary transboundary cooperation of the three countries that combine the stakeholders’ interest based on local wisdom with respect for law, regulations and policies in the respective countries, multi-level environmental agreements and existing regional and bilateral agreements.

Participants of the workshop are to come out with a common consensus on packaging, branding and documentation of GFP.

Besides that, the workshop has also managed to document various varieties of Adan rice including Pade Adan Buda (white Adan rice), Pade Adan Item (black Adan rice) and Pade Adan Sia (red Adan rice).

The ‘Green and Fair’ products from the HoB will be introduced to the market by FORMADAT and WWF at the Rainforest World Music Festival to be held in July this year.