Sg Kajah Land Committee again cries foul over alleged logging on NCR land

Borneo Post

3 days ago

A photo allegedly showing several longhouse chiefs accompanying logging company representatives to the field on July 14. — Photo from Kujat Dudang
KANOWIT (Aug 4): The Sungai Kajah Land Committee (SKLC) again raised concerns over ongoing logging activities allegedly taking place on gazetted Native Customary Rights (NCR) land under their stewardship despite repeated complaints lodged with the relevant authorities.
Its chairman Kujat Dudang said the activity, which began in mid-2021, was being carried out under the guise of a Licence for Planted Forests (LPF) issued over Block 1 Lot 8 of the Sepali Land District.
'The issuance and continuation of this LPF clearly contravenes Section 65(3) of the Sarawak Forestry Ordinance and Section 5(3) of the Sarawak Land Code (1958), both of which prohibit commercial activities on gazetted NCR land without proper consultation and consent,' Kujat said in a statement yesterday.
He explained that the land in question was surveyed and recognised under Section 6 of the Sarawak Land Code (Amendment) 2018 prior to the LPF's issuance.
'Despite this, the Forest Department Sarawak (FDS) approved the LPF licence, raising serious legal, ethical, and governance concerns,' he added.
Kujat also claimed that although multiple police reports had been lodged, no enforcement action had been taken to date. In addition, SKLC has submitted a complaint to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), backed by photographs and witness testimonies.
The complaint alleged that certain longhouse chiefs were receiving monthly allowances and commission-based payments from the licence holder to influence villagers into allowing logging on NCR land.
'This blatant conflict of interest undermines community leadership and deceives landowners into giving consent under false pretences,' Kujat said.
He stressed that the continued extraction of timber has caused environmental degradation, including deforestation, water pollution, and biodiversity loss — posing threats to the ecosystem, food security, and cultural heritage of the Iban community in Sungai Kajah.
In a statement on April 21, the FDS said it was 'awaiting confirmation of NCR land status' on the matter.
However, Kujat pointed out that this contradicted an earlier statement from the state Land and Survey Department (LSD), which stated that LPF licenses should not be issued over gazetted NCR land.
'In light of these issues, the SKLC is calling for immediate action from the FDS to revoke the LPF license issued over the gazetted NCR land, LSD to publicly reaffirm the Section 6 NCR status and enforce its protection, MACC and the Royal Malaysia Police to investigate corruption allegations involving the licencee and implicated longhouse chiefs, the federal Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability to uphold environmental laws and indigenous land rights and the Premier of Sarawak's Office to ensure that development does not override legally recognised customary rights,' he said.
Kujat emphasised that the people of Sungai Kajah were not against development but urged that it be carried out transparently and lawfully.
'The government must not allow large corporations to continue exploiting our forests with impunity, nor should grassroots voices be ignored.'
Photographic evidence allegedly showing several longhouse chiefs accompanying logging company representatives to the field on July 14 has been submitted as part of the MACC complaint.
The individuals involved are reportedly under investigation, according to SKLC.
'This is not just a protest. It is a plea for justice and a call for the rule of law to be upheld,' Kujat concluded.