Remote communities now into high-yielding rubber planting

http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/08/16/remote-communities-now-into-high-yielding-rubber-planting/

by Karen Bong, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on August 16, 2013, Friday

KUCHING: The Penan and Kelabit communities in the most remote settlements in Baram have already started with the planting of high-yielding rubber.

This was disclosed by Modernisation of Agriculture Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr Alfred Jabu yesterday, who also said a total of 72 Penan families in Long Beruang and 60 Kelabit families in Long Peluan participated in the scheme on 520 hectares of land. Jabu, who is also Rural Development Minister, pointed out that the project is part of the state government’s Rural Transformation Programme to eradicate poverty.

“The government’s aim is to help lift people out of poverty, especially those in the remotest interior of Sarawak, through agriculture,” he added.

Jabu was at the Kuching Borneo Convention Centre (BCCK) here to open the Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Salcra) Farm Development Committee Members Seminar.

“Backed by biotechnology advancement, we have now started planting the high quality rubber trees,” he said.

“We hope that the participants can generate sustainable income through the rubber plantation after four years (maturity). It is hoped that they can earn at least RM2,000 per month per family once the rubber trees reach maturity for tapping,” he emphasised. The project, introduced early last year, was launched by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

The first phase of the project involved the clearing of land, building of infrastructure such as road to the estate and nursery for rubber saplings, followed by planting.

As rural development minister, Jabu said he would not be deterred by the unique challenges and difficulties faced in the rural interiors.

“Understandably, Baram located about 15 hours drive from Miri in good weather, is hardly accessible but despite the difficulties, I still choose to start the project,” he said. Thus, Jabu hopes that the participants can see the fruits of their hard work after four or five years and in turn change their negative perception of the Barisan Nasional (BN) government.

“We hope to give the opportunities to the nomadic Penans, especially those who have been negatively influenced by certain non-governmental organisations (NGOs), to see the commitment of the BN government,” he said.

PKR leadership split over Baram candidate?

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/02/18/pkr-leadership-split-over-baram-candidate/

Joseph Tawie | February 18, 2013 

 

In the Baram parliamentary constituency, Ibans are the 'kingmakers' and Anwar Ibrahim should quickly realise this, says a grassroots PKR leader.

KUCHING: Barisan Nasional may retain – by default – its hold over the Baram parliamentary constituency given the confusion over who PKR will field in the coming general election.

Given the fact that 42% of Baram’s 29,000 strong electorate are Ibans, it seems most plausible that the opposition fields an Iban, but PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, however, seems to think otherwise.

Anwar allegedly announced a candidate – Roland Engan, a lawyer – from the Kenyah tribe as a candidate for Baram and this has not gone down well with the Kapit PKR wing which has been actively supporting Iban-boy Patrick Sibat Sujang.

According to Kapit PKR deputy chairman Baginda Minda, sidelining the Ibans “will be at our own risk”.

“You can’t ignore the Iban-factor. This is because the Ibans constitute 12,000 voters or about 42% of the 29,000-strong electorate as compared with Kayans of 6,800 voters, Kenyahs 4,700 and Penans and Kelabit 1,000 voters.

“Chinese and Malay comprise 2,600 and 1,700 voters respectively. If we ignore or sideline the Ibans, it will be at our own risk,” said Baginda, who is Sujang’s chief campaigner.

He was commenting on “unsettling” reports that Anwar had allegedly announced, on Feb 11 in Beluru, that Engan would be the candidate for Baram.

“(Now) the people in Baram are not only confused, but also want answers as to why Roland (Engah) is so special that he is the first PKR candidate to be confirmed ahead of about 70 other PKR candidates throughout the country.

“Is the hasty announcement an indication of trouble within the PKR?

“Was Anwar pressured to announce it in an impromptu manner as an attempt to pre-empt the growing influence of Patrick Sibat, especially among the Iban voters? Or was it an attempt to sideline the Iban voters?” asked Baginda.

Ibans are ‘kingmakers’

Baginda said if indeed Anwar had made the announcement then it would “offend the Ibans” and would be “a fatal mistake.”

Explaining further, Baginda said that although on the surface it may appear than the Ibans are “insignificant” given that they are not directly affected by the Baram dam issue, they were nonetheless “kingmakers”.

Citing examples, Baginda said in the 1990 parliamentary election, Harrison Ngau as an independent candidate contested against Luhat Wan of BN-Sarawak National Party (SNAP) in a three-cornered fight.

But with strong support from the Iban community from Marudi, Harrison won the seat with a majority of 839 votes. Sujang was one of those campaigned for Harrison.

If Ngau had depended solely on Kayan, Kenyah and Penan voters he would have lost.

Baginda said a similar scenario had occurred in Telang Usan constituency in the 2011 state election.

Here too, he said, Ibans played an important role.

He said in the 2011 state election, it was clear that the Kayan, Kenyah and Penan communities were split into two – 49% voted for a Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu-BN candidate Denis Ngau, while 51% voted for Ngau.

“The kingmakers here were some 3,000 Iban voters from Puyut and Lubok Nibong polling districts, and in the last state election, they threw their support to Dennis Ngau.

“Denis Ngau won by a majority of 845 votes,” Baginda said.

He expects a similar situation in the 13th general election.

Dam, a non-issue with Ibans

According to him whilst the proposed construction of the Baram dam might be a major issue among the Kayan, Kenyah and Penan communities, it was a non-issue with the Ibans, who were more concerned about infrastructure developments like roads and their native customary rights (NCR).

He said the 2011 state election clearly showed that although the proposed dam was likely to displace some 20,000 inhabitants from 26 Kayan, Kenyah and Penan longhouses and villagers, some 50% of the people from these three communities had not opposed the government and its plan.

Hence, keeping the Ibans happy is all the more important, said Baginda.

“For the Ibans, roads and NCR issues are most important…These are the issues that we [Sujang's group] are highlighting.

“Was Anwar misled into believing Roland [Engah] has the support of the Ibans? Personally, I believe that Roland will have an uphill task in Baram constituency.

“[Because] every time he holds a gathering, his crowd of about 300 or 400 is the same people who are members of the non-governmental organisations [NGOs].

“He [Engah] needs to have the support of the Iban voters.

“But will the Iban voters support him?” Baginda said.

Bringing JOY to the highlands

http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/01/06/bringing-joy-to-the-highlands/

by Chang Yi. Posted on January 6, 2013, Sunday

JOANNA Joy is not only the MAS agent in Bario but also the owner of a large Bario pineapple garden and a homestay business.

PINEAPPLES FOR LUNCH: Kelabit friends bringing Bario pineapples for the afternoon meal prepared at the homestay. All dishes are individually cooked for each group.

A mother of two young adults who have been educated in Kuala Lumpur — one already working and the other completing his studies — she has, in response to the call of familial duty, returned to the Bario Highlands to look after her aged mother and adopted parents.

When she was a little girl, her parents allowed their relative to adopt her. So, she has two sets of parents like many of the indigenous people of Sarawak.

Joanna who had her early education in Bario, studied in Institut Teknologi Mara after completing secondary school. Upon graduation, she worked and got married and then found a job outside Bario – the usual story of young Kelabits. However, the highlands had been beckoning to her.

Her children are now fairly independent and chasing their own dreams. Her daughter has graduated with an MA in biotechnology from University Malaya and her son is studying to become an IT programmer from ITM.

The conditions were, thus, right for her to return and contribute to her hometown in the state’s scenic highlands.

Besides looking after her aging mother and adoptive parents, Joanna has put her time to good use by helping her people wherever she can. Presently, she is also holding down two jobs — as operational manager of Bario Airport and MAS agent.

She said she is not going to retire yet because she still has many dreams to fulfill. A few years ago, she started a pineapple farm on a piece of land near the airport. And not long ago, she opened a homestay business.

When friends from West Malaysia and overseas visit her, she is happy to show them her pineapple farm. She planted the young suckers with the help of her relatives, and is now harvesting as many as 10 to 15 fruits a day — sometimes more. Any surplus will be made into jam.

Challenging problems

However, Joanna has problems using her food processor to make jam. When the Bario dam is low, there is virtually no electricity for the community. And since power supply is dependent on the water level in the dam, it is not everyday that she can use her food processor to make jam. Fortunately, there is a generator at the secondary school in the area which she can rely on when the need arises.

HOME-MADE: Joanna’s home-made pineapple jam.

Joanna also faces a serious problem in her pineapple business. Sending the fruits by air to Miri is very expensive. She sells her pineapples at RM2 per kilo to passengers and relatives.

Malaysian Airlines allows free luggage of 10kg. Passengers are weighed before checking in with their hand luggage. Each pineapple easily weighs up to 3 kilos. If someone buys a box of pineapples, he or she may have to pay an extra RM30 surcharge because of excess baggage.

Relatives bringing a pineapple or two for their family or friends would usually wait for a friendly passenger to help hand-carry the fruits for them to Miri. That’s the way of the people in the highlands – always ready to help each other.

Besides pineapples, Joanna’s family also plant rice. If she cannot farm the land herself, she will ask other padi planters for help — perhaps on a sharecropping basis.

In the past, her parents had no problem planting enough rice to feed the whole family for a period of two years. Will she allow her land to lay fallow for the next few years?

In fact, Joanna is having to face many issues related to growing rice and pineapples in the highlands. Can she get a grant to start a pineapple jam cottage industry? She has been sourcing for help from friends and government agents but to no avail so far.

She sells her home-made jam at counters that are open to her but she has to remember not to over-produce because her refrigerator cannot operate 24 hours a day due to limited electricity supply in Bario.

Moreover, many of the better educated younger women who bemoan the lack of basic utilities – adequate electricity supply, for example – in the area have left to find work elsewhere.

Airport Homestay

WITH VISITORS: Joanna (right) and her visitors in front of her homestay.

Homestay business in Bario is irregular. Things usually pick up only during festive celebrations.

However, for holiday-makers – both local and foreign – homestay accommodation and related facilities are available in Bario as well as nearby villages which offer attractions like kayaking and salt mines.

One popular setup is Joanna’s Bario Airport Homestay which offers good food. The chef frequently comes up with “very refreshing dishes.” Fresh talipia from Joanna’s pond next to the homestay is available everyday!

Dessert consists of a huge plate of freshly-plucked pineapples, and vegetables bought from the surrounding homesteads although green-thumbed Joanna grows most of her own vegetables.

Joanna Joy is a shinning example of an enterprising Kelabit woman who meets her challenges with plenty of cheers. If the challenges she is facing can be overcome, many younger highlanders would probably stay back to work and help boost the local economy.

With plantation roads linking Bario to Marudi, the future looks good for those Kelabits hoping to return home after their retirement — and even for the younger ones after their education outside the highlands.

According to a young government officer in Marudi, there might be more jobs in Bario in the future as more businesses can be opened up. With so many possibilities, the rural-urban migration which has been affecting many Bario families, could see a reversal.

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.

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.”

Najib Meets Kelabit Community in Bario

http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v5/newsgeneral.php?id=578994

April 14, 2011

BARIO, April 14 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak today visited the Bario highland in the north-eastern part of Sarawak to mingle with the Kelabit community living in a settlement 1,100 metres above sea level.

Upon arriving by helicopter from Marudi, the Prime Minister was given a traditional Kelabit welcome at the gathering of the people with the leader at the Bario Community Hall.

Najib also went on a walkabout to visit the Bario new clinic and also a rural niternet centre using a satellite network.

Kelabit is one of the smallest ethnic groups in Sarawak with approximately 5,000 people.

It takes one hour by air from Miri to Bario on a MAS Twin Otter 19-seater aircraft.

The Prime Minister announced an allocation of RM40 million to build a 30km road from the Ba'Kelalan settlement to Bario under the "Noble Soul" programme of the Defence Ministry.

Najib also approved an allocation of RM6 million to build four Bailey bridges at gabs in the road in the highland area now accessible only by light aircraft.

A road from Lawas to Ba'Kelalan is being built at a cost of RM60 to serve the highland residents.

Najib also said that 100 houses of Bario residents would be repaired under a programme of the 1Malaysia Development Board which would also finance the building of village roads in the area.

Also present were Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Seri Irdris Jala, and Health MInister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

--BERNAMA

Three road projects for Lingga

http://tribune.my/prime/4170-three-road-projects-for-lingga.html

Three road projects for Lingga

Wednesday, 03 November 2010 15:23

MINISTER of Infrastructure Development and Communications Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong relayed his answer to a question by Simoi Peri (BNLingga) who wanted to know the completion dates for the road upgrading projects in her constituency.

Manyin revealed that there were three road upgrading projects approved by Ministry of Rural and District Development under the NKRA programme in Lingga constituency.

“The projects include the road upgrading of Stumbin-Tanjung Bijat-Stirau, Jalan Sri Aman- Sembau-Stumbin-Lingga and Jalan Stumbin Link, which is a new inclusion,” he said.

“The architectural drafts for the three projects have been completed and the Ministry is now preparing for a tender process. The road upgrading work is expected to start in early 2011,” he added.

To a question from Nelson Balan Rining (BN-Ba’ Kelalan) who wanted to know if the government had plan to build more roads in his constituency, Manyin said there was no plan to build a road from Ba’Kelalan to Bario.

He elaborated that Bario would be connected by proposed road projects, namely Long Lama-Long Laput-Long Miri-Long Pilah-Long Nikan-Long Kesih-Long Akah road, the 40-Km Long Akah-Long Banga road and the 67-Km Bario- Pa’ Dalih-Long Banga road.

A Malaysia Day reflection

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/fmt-english/opinion/comment/10438-a-malaysia-day-reflection

A Malaysia Day reflection

Tue, 21 Sep 2010 12:00

By Hilary Chiew

COMMENT Malaysia Day last Thursday saw considerable outpouring of sentiments of ‘oneness’ on the pages of newspapers and online portals and even on the streets.

Some were the predictable reiteration and re-examination of the 20- and 18-point agreements that applied to Sabah and Sarawak when the two states in Borneo together with the Federation of Malaya and Singapore formed Malaysia in 1963.

There were also the propagandists ‘feel-good’ stories of West Malaysians singing praises of the ‘development’ they saw happening in the two states across the South China Sea.

These stories are to be taken with a generous helping of salt. Actually, they are more like rubbing salt to the wounds. The discontent of East Malaysians is centred on being left behind in the grand scheme of national development but some of those positive stories are arguing along the line that they should be grateful for whatever they have got so far.

One army veteran shared his observation of the improvement in the road and the Kuching General Hospital’s cardiac unit. For the road, he was comparing it with the gravel ones in the 1960s when he was first posted there and later became a civilian and now residing in Kuching.

Maybe he has never travel to the interior on bumpy and dangerous timber roads and not visited the health service centres that are understaffed and poorly equipped. Many are manned by junior medical attendants where the needs for quality medical attention are most needed.

Not only that all these essential social services are rare, economic development projects promoted by the state governments (which in turn are endorsed by the federal government) are threatening the self-subsistence lifestyle of the rural populations.

Maybe like many urbanites on both sides of the sea, he chose to turn a deaf ear and be blind to this backwardness. After all, ignorance is bliss.

Poor roads have been lifelong complain of at least two generations of Sabahans and Sarawakians. For the slightly better off folks, they are unhappy that they can’t travel in a huge part of their states with a sedan car like most West Malaysians instead of a four-wheel-drive. And these 4WDs last lesser than in the peninsula, no thanks to the potholed-ridden unsealed surfaces.

Their frustrations are further compounded by their realization that they are endowed with rich resources that had been exploited all these 47 years which enriched the national coffer yet they remained the poorest states in the federation.

In his speech to mark the first Malaysia Day celebration in Kota Kinabalu, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak promised a greater push towards ending the social and economic disparities between peninsula and the Borneo states, tacitly admitting the neglect.

The government is fully aware of the disparity and the state of inequality that are leading to further marginalisation of Sabahans and Sarawakians. In its more recent Malaysian Plans, notably the 8th and 9th plans, the problem was acknowledged with promises of rectification. But plans after plans, there are hardly any evaluation of the failures in implementation and the situation remains.

Throwing money irresponsibly

All these talks about road construction reminded me of the recent announcement of development allocation by Najib when he visited Sarawak on the heels of yet another report on sexual violations against Penan womenfolks.

But instead of addressing the issue head-on (I wonder if members of the press did and dare ask him to comment on the problem), the helicopter visit turned into a project-pledging trip.

(The trip was preceded by Women’s Affair Minister Shahrizat whirlwind visit to Batu Bungan, supposedly to get a first hand knowledge of the recurring rape issues.)

Hence, it was largely seen by many political observers as a pre-state election exercise to bolster the battered image of the state that was reeling from one expose after another of Taib’s overseas wealth accumulation which by the way, until this day, Najib’s administration has never commented.

Anyway, he pledged RM101mil to upgrade the infamous Beluru-Lapok road; a 42km largely gravel road connecting the major thoroughfare into the interior of timber-rich Baram with the coastal cities of Miri and Bintulu.

The locals have interesting names for the road – Jumping Road, Bone-breaking Road, Jalan Lobang etc. There are also stories which are the stuff of urban legend – the roughness of the road is also said to be birth-inducing; babies had been delivered prematurely in vehicles.

Locals will tell you that the handful of sealed stretches of the road were election goodies. Past pledges from the federal government to seal the entire road had mysteriously evaporated elections after elections.

As with most government allocations that are awarded to private contractors without going through open tendering, the final products are predictably substandard.

Another pledge - the RM6million allocation for a mini hydro-electric project in Long Banga, upper Baram is also questionable.

The flopped rural electrification project in the Sarawak Kelabit Highland comes to mind. In 1997, the Ministry of Rural Development awarded a RM17million contract for a hybrid micro-hydro electrification for the Bario Asal longhouse community in Bario.

In the absence of project transparency, the contractor purportedly installed a 100kW turbine which was way beyond the capacity of the Merario River. After a big launch fanfare, the electricity supply lasted a mere 15 minutes, claimed some locals.

In any case, it eventually incurred a cost of RM900 per month diesel cost for three-hour indoor lighting. This was due to wrong judgment of the hydro capacity to turn the ill-fitted big turbine. The system has since been abandoned and was partly destroyed by flash floods in 2003.

Subsequently, an indigenous peoples’ organization from Sabah – Pacos Trust (Partners in Community Organisations) provided technical assistance to the community to revive the project with less than RM500,000. The 40kW mini-hydro project is now providing 24-hour electricity for the 47 households of Bario Asal in January 2009.

Thus far, Pacos has successfully implemented community-based mini-hydro in Long Lawen, Belaga and tow other remote villages in Sabah – Kg Terian in Penampang and Kg Bantul in Pensiangan.

Hardly the solution

Micro-hydro projects that involved communities from the beginning are a proven solution to rural electrification; a sound alternative to mega dams, coal-fired power plants and even nuclear power plants that are not only costly, environmentally destructive but involved transmission across hundreds or thousands of kilometers resulting in energy losses, rendering them highly inefficient.

So, throwing huge sum of taxpayers money nilly-willy can hardly be the solution.

Furthermore, it risks being perceived as yet another way to enrich the politically-connected companies that stand to wrest the contracts.

And when it comes to mega projects like the Bakun dam, displaced communities became dispossesed in the grand scheme of development. It certainly doesn’t bode well for nation-building if these Sarawakians are deprived of electricity when they had already sacrificed so much only to have the energy earmarked for energy-wasteful peninsula. At least that was the initial plan which has since been shelved.

When people are dispossessed, can you blame them for their discontent?

Malaysia Day celebration will be meaningful only when we stopped serving the East Malaysians the crumbs from our dining tables and embrace all Malaysians as one regardless of race and religion.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hilary Chiew is a socio-environmental researcher and freelance writer based in Kuala Lumpur.

S’wak all for sustainable Permanent Forest Estates

http://tribune.my/prime/2511-swak-all-for-sustainable-permanent-forest-estates.html

S’wak all for sustainable Permanent Forest Estates

Thursday, 09 September 2010 12:51

KUCHING: The Sarawak Government is committed towards ensuring that the State’s Permanent Forest Estates are sustainably managed.

In the case of illegal logging, it is very much under controlled.

The State Government does not condone any illegal harvesting and irresponsible forest management. However, it must also face the reality that there are no countries in this world that can absolutely ensure that illegal felling of timber did not happen. Even the countries in Europe are no exception.

Giving this assurance was Second Minister of Planning and Resource Management and Minister of Public Utilities, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, through a statement received here yesterday.

“We take pride in our forests, which are systematically managed according to principles established by the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO).

Our goal is to manage our forests in a manner that is environmentally responsible, socially beneficial and economically viable.

“The Forest Department is entrusted with forest management, forest protection, and the efficient and effective utilisation of forest resources.

It is responsible for protecting the state’s forest assets and the preservation and conservation of the state’s flora and fauna,” he added.

He added: “Samling was in the news lately due to the media statement issued by the Norwegian Government Pension Fund announcing its divestment of their shares in the company. Samling is a long term player and has been in operation in Sarawak for well over four decades. The state government wishes to allay fear about the company’s alleged irresponsible activities.

Samling is one of the most responsible companies in the state and has adhered to the stringent conditions of concession agreements and licences. Over the years, the company has demonstrated its commitment to sustainable forest practices.

“Samling is also a caring organisation and its corporate social responsibility is second to none. Much efforts and assistance has been done by the company towards the communities living within the area of operation. Samling has built roads and bridges to improve transportation and accessibility between villages and towns for forest communities.

“One project involved the construction of two major roads and bridges: one linking Pa Dallih with Pa Mada to the north, and another linking Bario settlements, and benefiting 14 remote Kelabit villages. The infrastructure projects were undertaken at the request of local communities, and had been given the approval by the state government.

“Allegation of Samling’s encroachment into the sovereign territory of Indonesia is a figment of the Council of Ethics’ imagination. It i s publ i c knowledge i n Sarawak for indigenous communities to regularly cros s the Indones ia- Sarawak borders without valid documents to visit family members on either side. The satellite image in the Council of Ethics Draft Recommendation captures these border crossings. It shows a settlement on the Indonesian border with dirt trails leading to Sarawak to facilitate inter-border communication, and barter trade between communities on both sides of the border.

“Also, upon further investigation, the Council’s satellite imagery which shows “evidence of past logging in the buffer zone” appears to be a cloud cover and not “disturbed areas covered by new vegetation” as claimed by the Council.

“The state government also vouches for Samling’s EIA performance – it has met all EIA requirements and approvals set out by the Sarawak Forest Department.

“The state government views the public defamation of Samling as disturbing especially when it is based on biased, uncollaborated and incomplete information.

“These allegations will have serious repercussion towards the well-being of the state and the timber industry at large. It also undermines the Sarawak Forest Department’s role in promoting responsible tropical forestry, and the continuous improvements it has made in its journey to achieve best practices in sustainable forest management,” the statement ended.

PM: Equal rights for all

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/7/23/nation/6721796&sec=nation

Friday July 23, 2010

PM: Equal rights for all

By DIANA ROSE
drose@thestar.com.my


MIRI: All Malaysians including those living in the most remote of settlements like Long Banga in Ulu Baram have equal rights to better themselves under the 1Malaysia principle.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said yesterday that the 1Malaysia principle assured all Malaysians an equal opportunity.

“Through this concept of inclusive development, social justice will be achievable,” he told some 2,000 members of the Orang Ulu community during a gathering at the Long Banga Community Hall here yesterday.

At the function, Najib announced five projects worth about RM107.5mil. Some RM100mil is to be used to upgrade the Beluru-Lapok road, which is the main highway linking the interior of Baram to Miri.

Another RM1mil will go to tar-seal the road linking an airstrip to Long Banga and RM6mil for a mini hydro project to provide electricity to 148 households in the longhouse.

PHOTO: Let’s dance: Najib taking part in an orang ulu community dance together with local folk on the Sungai Puak bridge some 360km from Miri in Sarawak Thursday. Najib, who was on a one-day working visit to Sarawak, had officiated the opening of the bridge. Also dancing to the beat are Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu (behind Najib) and Baram MP Datuk Jacob Dungau Sagan (third from right).

Najib also announced RM500,000 for the construction of a rural clinic at Long Jekitan which would benefit the Penans.

The Rubber Industry Smallholders Develop­ment Authority would increase the subsidy for the replanting of rubber trees from RM10,000 to RM14.000 per hectare next year.

Najib’s visit was a historic event for the Orang Ulu community, who comprise the Kenyah, Kayan, Kelabit, Saban and Penan. Some had to travel by land for more than a day on rough timber roads to meet the Najib.

During the function, Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang surprised the Prime Minister with a birthday cake in the form of a 1Malaysia logo. Najib turns 57 today.

Penghulu Lejau Kulleh from Long Lama said: “I am very proud that we have a Prime Minister who is willing to visit us in Ulu Baram.’’

Najib set to 'charm' Sarawak's Orang Ulu

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/fmt-english/politics/sabah-and-sarawak/8200-najib-set-to-charm-sarawaks-orang-ulu

Najib set to 'charm' Sarawak's Orang Ulu

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 11:26

By Pushparani Thilaganathan

MIRI: Riding on 64.1% popularity high in Sarawak, Barisan Nasional chairman Najib Tun Razak is set to head straight for the state’s deepest interiors tomorrow to “see for himself the real situation” among the Penan, Kelabit, Kenyah, Kayan, Saban, Berawan and Lakiput communities.

Najib is keeping his word. He had once told Sarawakians that he wanted a first-hand look at the state’s remotest areas, accessible only by boat, helicopters or trekking.

This will be only the second time since independence that a prime minister has ventured into the interiors of this vast landlocked state sliced by the mighty Rajang river.

The last visit was when former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad visited Long Bedian in 2003.

Excitement is high among the simplistic Orang Ulu sub-ethnic communities as they await Najib’s arrival to launch a bridge in Long Banga in Ulu Baram, which is an eight-hour drive from here along a dirt road.

Ulu Baram is home to the Orang Ulu comprising the Penan, Kelabit, Kenyah, Kayan, Saban, Berawan and Lakiput. Together with downriver tribes, Lun Bawang and Lun Dayeh, they make up 5.5 % of Sarawak’s population, a voter base that state BN officials have touted as unreacheable to the opposition. (The recent Merderka Centre Survey polled 11.2% support for the opposition Sarawak, but political analyst Faizal Hazri notes that Pakatan Rakyat will need 20% swing in votes to take Sarawak.)

According to Telang Usan assemblyman, Lihan Jok, the Orang Ulu are a minority community long since left behind by progress.

The prime minister’s visit, he said, will give them a chance at experiencing development.

“I believe this historic visit by Najib to Ulu Baram will pay off. He can see for himself their needs and explain many things to them.

“We are a minority community that has long been left behind by progress and development because we live in the far interiors of the rainforest,” Jok said.

The wish list

Reiterating his confidence in the imminent change which Najib will bring, Jok said he had forwarded the people’s wish list to the Prime Minister’s Department during his recent visit to Putrajaya.

“We’ve asked for development that will directly benefit each community’s quality of life and I believe the government will implement these plans for the Orang Ulu,” said Jok.

He said all the Orang Ulu sub-communities will be given a fair share of the development plan.

“For the Kelabit who live in the highlands, we have asked for roads and a bridge linking them to Miri city.

‘For the Penan, we have asked for clinics. The Penan community needs better healthcare and clinics that are closer to their settlements.

“For the Kenyah in Telang Usan, we have focused on economic development such as mini rubber estates for them to improve on their income.

“For the Kayan in Ulu Baram Tengah, we have also asked for a road and a bridge linking them to the outside world.

“And for the Berawan and Lakiput communities, they live in the low-lying areas and face regular water problems so we have asked for clean water to be supplied for their daily use,” said Jok.

While Jok has put forth the infrastructural needs of the Orang Ulu community, another group is fervently hoping to convince Najib to save its women and children from an endemic scrounge.

Said a source close to the Penan Support Group (PSG): “We know the visits into the Sarawak interior is time consuming but since he (Najib) is here in Baram, we sincerely hope that he will meet with groups like us.

“We want to tell him the real issues… that the Penan children are vulnerable. They are prone to rape and sexual exploitation because they are dependent on the logging companies for transport to schools... There are no schools near their settlements.

‘The fact is, he is the only one who can put a stop to this wide-ranging endemic exploitation.”

The PSG incidentally has rankled both state and federal governments with its recent report entitled “A wider context of sexual exploitation of Penan women and girls in Middle and Ulu Baram, Sarawak,” which contains intimate details and first-hand interviews of the scrounge in the interiors.

"Many BN leaders have slammed us. They find these confessions embarrasing and say the Penan are lying. But the report is factual and far more real than police reports and professed government action," said the source.

Kelabits want access

http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2008/10/31/southneast/2371544&sec=southneast

Friday October 31, 2008

Kelabits want access

By STEPHEN THEN


MIRI: The minority Kelabit community in the Bario highlands of northern Sarawak will ensure that the building of a 300km mountain-logging road will not destroy the terrain’s ecosystem, said the Kelabit National Association.

Part of the Bario highlands, located near the Sarawak-Kalimantan border, had been alienated for selective logging, said association president Gerawat Gala.

He said the logging project had the blessings of his community members who lived all over the highlands.

They had given approval to timber giant Samling Corporation to manage this long, winding logging road from the summit of Bario to Miri, said Gala.

He added that the Kelabits, a minority ethnic group in Sarawak, had taken part in the decision-making process before the projects were approved by the Sarawak government.

The community would ensure that utmost care be taken to prevent damage to the Bario ecology, he said.

“We recognise that government authorities had licensed part of the highlands for selective logging and have decided to cooperate with the authorities and Samling Corp to ensure our community benefits from the improved accessibility.

“We value our environment and are mindful of the need to ensure continued sustainability of our forests. As a community, we have worked well with the timber company in addressing various issues that affect us.

“The logging road is needed as, without the link, we cannot realise the development potential of our people,” he said.

Recently, concerns were expressed by environmental watchdog group Borneo Resources Institute over the opening of Bario for the projects.

Ba’Kelalan state assemblyman Nelson Balang Rining said the road was needed to bring down prices of goods and fuel in Bario and prevent shortages.

The institute’s Sarawak coordinator Raymond Abin had the Bario-Miri logging road may result in more highland forests being logged.

Abin’s fears may be true, but Gala said the logging would not cause much harm as the timber felling would be done via selective logging.

“Our community will not allow our forests and mountains to be destroyed. We will work closely with the timber firm to ensure our forests are sustained,” said Gala.

Asked about the size of the area allocated for logging, Gala said he did not have exact figures.

On how his community would ensure no major damage would be inflicted by the logging, he said that Samling Corp had assured this to his people.

Concern over logging road into Bario highland

http://article.wn.com/view/2008/10/22/Concern_over_logging_road_into_Bario_highland/

Published: Wednesday October 22, 2008 MYT 2:45:00 PM
Updated: Wednesday October 22, 2008 MYT 3:07:52 PM

Concern over logging road into Bario highland

By STEPHEN THEN


MIRI: The 300-km long mountain-logging road right to the top of the Bario highlands in northern Sarawak will permanently damage the ecology and weather systems in Sarawak's interior, warned environmental-watchdog group Borneo Resources Institute.

Institute coordinator for Sarawak, Raymond Abin, said this road might result in more highland forests being logged and this would spell the end of the pristine nature of Bario.

"We (his institute) are totally caught offguard by the news that this logging road has already been built all the way into the top of Bario highlands.

“The Bario highlands is a very ecologically-important region. The ecosystem and the weather system there is very fragile.

"From what I know, the road was constructed by a timber company, not by the Government. Does this mean that the timber firm has been given the right to harvest the timber in the forests where the logging road runs through? "Our institute is worried that the construction of this logging road is merely a front for the opening of the whole Bario highlands for timber extraction," he said on Wednesday. Ba'Kelalan state assemblyman Nelson Balang Rining has confirmed that the logging road had been constructed right into the heart of the 5,000 feet high Bario mountain range, connecting it all the way to Miri.

Balang said the road would open up the entire Bario highlands for socio-economic development and will herald in a new era of progress for more than 5,000 highlanders living in Bario.

"The construction of this logging road is a very important move to link the people of the highlands with the outside world. This logging road will enable the interior folks to travel all the way from Bario to Miri by land, something that was impossible before.

"This logging road is crucial because it will open up accessibility to settlements that were once only linked by flights. It will facilitate easier transport of fuel and food into the remote highland settlements," he said, adding that the journey from Miri to Bario via the logging road will take at least 13 hours.

The road from Miri will cut through Marudi, Long Banga, Padilih and up the slope of the Bario highlands to the Bario Airport.

The Bario highlands is similar in geographical settings to the Genting highlands. Populated by the Lun Bawangs and Kelabits minority ethnic groups, Bario is well-known for its fragrant rice and tourism spots. Balang on Wednesday said the logging road belonged to Samling Corporation, not the state or federal Government.

"The road will remain under the jurisdiction of Samling. However, it is the people's wish to see the road eventually upgraded into a Government-road. I hope the Government can adopt the road and tar-seal it in the near future," he said.

Balang said the construction of the Miri-Bario logging road did not infringe into any national park or forests reserve. Abin said his institute wanted the state government to disclose whether any logging concession had been given out in the Bario highlands and if any environmental impact assessment was done before the road was built.