Latest news with #Penan
Scoop
3 days ago
- General
- Scoop
Logging Conflict Escalates In Sarawak As Penan Take A Stand
As Malaysian timber group Borneoland Timber Resources strips 4,000 tonnes of timber each month from protected forest, Indigenous communities have responded with blockades to defend their land. Indigenous Penan communities in Sarawak's Upper Baram region have recently set up blockades against large-scale logging activities by Borneoland Timber Resources Sdn Bhd ('Borneoland'), a politically-linked Malaysian logging company. Groups of locals fighting the encroachment have established blockades at Ba Olé (within the boundaries of Ba Data Bila), Long Benali and Ba Pengaran Kelian. Some of these blockades have since been dismantled by timber workers. In April alone, 162 logging trucks with an estimated load of 25 metric tons each left the forests of Ba Data Bila. This amounts to approximately 4,000 tons of timber, valued at around MYR 9 million (US$ 2.1 million), in just one month. The logging concession, granted last year without public tender, encompasses protected forest within the Upper Baram Forest Area. According to Sarawak Forest Director Hamden Mohammad, «the primary purpose of a protected forest is to preserve and safeguard the ecological integrity of the land, ensure environmental protection of soils and water, and in some cases, support productive forest activities.» Despite sustainability promises, Borneoland's timber operation lacks any kind of certification or publicly available social and environmental impact assessments. The area was part of a sustainability showcase project under the auspices of the International Tropical Timber Organization ITTO. The project collapsed last year after Sarawak's authorities unilaterally terminated the project. Earlier this year, eleven community leaders took legal action and applied for a judicial review in the High Court in Sabah and Sarawak, demanding the immediate recall of the 170,000-hectare timber license granted to Borneoland.
The Sun
02-06-2025
- General
- The Sun
Positive transformation for Penan women
PETALING JAYA: In the heart of rural Malaysia, a quiet revolution is taking root, led not by politicians or corporations, but by Penan women armed with tradition, resilience and rattan. The Penan Women Project (PWP), co-founded by former graphic designer Ann Wong, began as a grassroots effort to support marginalised women through traditional weaving. Today, it has blossomed into a powerful movement for cultural preservation, gender equality and community-driven development. 'When we started, the aim was to improve their livelihoods, and access to education and healthcare. But just as importantly, we wanted to protect their cultural identity while helping them take on more active roles in their communities,' Wong told theSun. Life in Penan villages remains tough. Infrastructure is limited, environmental changes are biting, and the cost of living continues to rise. 'Basic necessities are becoming harder to afford. Yet, the women remain the backbone of their communities – raising families, collecting food and now, driving change.' Penan women, once confined to household roles, are stepping into new territory. They are artisans, entrepreneurs, mentors and even local leaders. 'One of our artisans who joined us a decade ago opened a sundry shop during the pandemic. 'She's still running it five years on. Her story is one of many that reflect the strength and determination of these women.' Education and tradition are no longer in conflict. In many households, children return from school and sit beside their mothers, learning the ancient craft of weaving by hand. 'This is what community resilience looks like. Everyone plays a part. By uplifting the voices of indigenous women, we create a more inclusive and sustainable future.' Among those leading the charge is Wendy Lolle, 38, from Telang Usan. Raised on traditional knowledge, she began weaving as a child, learning from her mother how to gather and process rattan into mats, bags and household items. 'Through weaving, I've supported my children's schooling and helped cover our daily needs,' Lolle said, adding that before PWP, Penan women were often disregarded. 'Now, people see us differently. We're artisans. Some of us even run businesses.' Lolle now leads efforts across multiple villages, guiding other women and linking remote communities to new opportunities. 'I used to be just a housewife while my husband farmed. But PWP changed that, not just for me, but for many others in our area.' She hopes the public would realise there are still many Penan families deep in the interior who need support. Another voice in this quiet uprising is Dora Paren, 44, from Long Kevok. Like Lolle, her introduction to weaving came early, learning from her mother, who supported the family using forest materials. 'I watched her every day and slowly, she taught me. Now, I'm still weaving, and my work sells far beyond the village,' Paren said, adding that every sale is a source of pride. 'When someone buys my work, it means they see and value my culture.' Once confined to nearby towns, Paren now travels to cities to sell her crafts. The income may be modest, but the sense of achievement is priceless. 'I'm grateful. My efforts aren't wasted.' She has also noticed a shift in perception. 'People used to think we just stayed home and helped our husbands. Now, they see that we can earn, create and contribute. 'Don't judge us on the outside. We have knowledge, skills and a way of life worth preserving. Let's protect that heritage together.'
South China Morning Post
24-05-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
Walking with the Penan people of Borneo's Sarawak rainforests
Covered in mud, I cling to the trunk of a young tree on a treacherous slope, catching my breath. George Ulan, our guide, is gathering leafy branches to block a narrow trail, having discovered layuk sa'at mu'un – very bad bees – whose stings leave you incapacitated for days, but the rest of the group is out of earshot. It is my fourth month in the jungle that year and I am thrilled to have been taken along on this walkabout with George and his family. I am trying my best to keep up. Advertisement Instead of shouting a warning, he unearths a medicinal root specifically used to treat the very-bad-bee stings and places it on a makeshift barrier of branches and leaves, a signal for those behind us in Oroo', a form of sign language of George's people, the Penan , an indigenous tribe from the rainforests of Sarawak and Brunei. Considered some of the last nomadic hunter-gatherers in the world, less than 100 years ago the Penan moved according to ecological rhythms and spiritual belief. It is estimated that of about 25,000 Penan today, fewer than 200 remain nomads, and numbers are dwindling fast. Bethshiba Jengan, Joseph Belait and Uret Wan prepare fish. Photo: Esslin Terrighena George grew up in Long Kerong, an early Penan settlement established along the Selungo River in Malaysian Borneo in the 1960s. Long Kerong is known for being one of the key villages involved in protecting the jungle from large-scale commercial logging through peaceful blockades and protests. In the 1980s, Swiss environmentalist Bruno Manser, who lived with the Penan, helped bring global attention to their struggle, advocating for their land rights and rainforest protection. He founded the Bruno Manser Fund (BMF) in 1991, which remains dedicated to this cause today. As their habitat and sacred ancestral lands were destroyed , ancient trees felled, rivers polluted and wildlife decimated, commercial logging forced the Penan off the lands with which they had been living in nomadic symbiosis. Yet they remain profoundly rooted in their jungle and traditions. The surrounding rainforest is more than just George's home, it provides everything for his people: food, medicine, tools, clothes, timber. There's no supermarket, pharmacy or local high street. The closest city, Miri, is 12 hours away. We are trekking up Batu Layuk (bee mountain) – no one bothered to mention that before we set off – which comprises a punishing climb through rough terrain, rewarded by breathtaking views over Selungo Valley. Well into his 60s, George ascends with the nimble gait so characteristic of the Penan, pointing out useful plants, edible mushrooms and animal tracks, such as those left by porcupine feet and sun bear paws. I, a quarter of a century his junior, trudge behind in silence, just trying to get through each step. Children play volleyball in Long Kerong. Photo: Esslin Terrighena Six hours later and we're at the top of the mountain, where I am flooded with tremendous relief and happy hormones. But that's the way it is here. I have rarely felt as vibrant as I have after a few nights, being rocked asleep in my hammock to the symphonies of this jungle, with its drinking vines, glow-in-the-dark fungi, moss-covered tree trunks, gigantic elephant-ear leaves, bat-filled caves and oversized ants.
Borneo Post
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Activist slams ‘misleading' claims over Baram forest project collapse
Peter John Jaban MIRI (May 24): Sarawak land rights activist Peter John Jaban has criticised the state government's narrative blaming civil society groups for the termination of the Upper Baram Forest Area (UBFA) project, calling it 'misleading'. He was responding to Deputy Minister Len Latif's clarification during the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting, where it was claimed that non-governmental organisations (NGOs) including Bruno Manser Fonds (BMF) and SAVE Rivers failed to meet project conditions by not taking into account the interest of indigenous groups apart from the Penan. 'These claims are misleading and ignore the actual reasons behind the project's collapse. 'The truth is that the project was derailed by a lack of transparency, top-down interference, and an abrupt shift away from the conservation and indigenous-led vision that was originally agreed upon,' he said in a statement. The UBFA initiative – known locally as the Baram Peace Park – was championed by the indigenous communities to protect over 79,000 hectares of primary forest, with the broader goal of ensuring sustainable livelihoods and forest stewardship across 283,500 hectares. Backed by international donors including the Japanese government and the City of Basel, the project emphasised Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) and community leadership. Peter claimed that after securing international funding, the Sarawak Forest Department and the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO) changed the project's direction and excluded core conservation areas, prioritising commercial forest exploitation without adequate community consultation. He said the government's narrative was now an attempt to 'deflect from reality' and that this project was compromised from the top. He also pointed to the controversial logging activities commencing in the area shortly after the expiration of previous concessions, as a new concession was granted to Borneoland Timber Resources Sdn Bhd. 'On the other hand, civil society groups had consistently advocated for transparency, FPIC and the inclusion of indigenous perspectives, while being scapegoated by the authorities.' The activist called on both the Sarawak government and ITTO to return to the principles of true indigenous leadership, conservation over profit, and full transparency. 'If Sarawak is serious about sustainable development, it must start by listening to the people who have protected these forests for generations,' he said. lead misleading Peter John UBFA Upper Baram Forest Area
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Sarawak Natives File Court Action To Stop Logging In Protected Forest
21 May 2025 - for immediate release Penan communities from Malaysian Borneo challenge large-scale logging operation in Sarawak's Upper Baram region Indigenous representatives from 11 communities in Sarawak's Upper Baram region have gone to court to protest the issuance of a logging licence to a politically-linked timber company. In a claim for judicial review filed in the High Court of Sarawak and Sabah, Penan community representatives call for the recall of a 170,000 hectare timber licence granted to Borneoland Timber Resources Sdn Bhd («Borneoland»), a private company based in Miri, Sarawak. Borneoland is controlled by Hii King Chiong, a local timber tycoon who has appeared in public with Sarawak Premier Abang Johari. Hii's company was awarded the timber concession in 2024 behind closed doors and without public tender. The area was formerly held by Sarawak timber giant Samling. It remains unclear why Hii's company was chosen, or whether his company made any payments for the timber licence, believed to be worth millions of dollars. Timber licence granted in violation of Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) principle In their lawsuit, a group of Penan elders led by Nilson Deng of Ba Data Bila state that the issuance of the timber licence, which encompasses their native customary territory, was made without their free, prior, and informed consent. They also argue that they have been deprived of their rights to object and to be heard. They also claim that the licence was granted without proper environmental and social impact assessments. The Penan accuse Borneoland of destroying Sarawak's last primary forests outside the state's totally protected areas. The company has already caused significant damage to forest areas used by the Penan for hunting, fishing and for collecting jungle produce. Part of the licence covers the 55,000 hectare Suling-Selaan Protected Forest which was gazetted in 2002. Protected forest is being destroyed instead of preserved In reply to the court action, Sarawak forest director Hamden Mohammad admitted that 'the primary purpose of a protected forest is to preserve and safeguard the ecological integrity of the land, ensure environmental protection of soils and water, and in some cases, support productive forest activities.' Satellite imagery however shows the heavy footprint of Borneoland's operations, even in areas that were defined as 'protection zone'. In particular, the west flank of the iconic Gunung Murud Kecil is under attack by the loggers. Lack of transparency inviting abuse and corruption Though the litigation that has been ongoing since January 2025, the Sarawak state government has so far failed to produce key documents such as environmental or social impact assessments, timber harvesting plans, and the timber licence granted to Borneoland. These documents are being withheld from the public in what Swiss environmental group Bruno Manser Fonds calls a 'scandalous lack of transparency that is inviting abuse and corruption'. ' My clients are calling on the court to quash the Director of Forest's decision to issue forest timber licence, and to stop the unlawful logging operation', said Miri-based lawyer Roland Engan. 'I will officially apply to court for all relevant documents pertaining to the logging operation. However, in the end this is a political problem. The Sarawak state government under Premier Abang Johari should never have issued this timber licence. It is high time for the Sarawak government to stop this kind of destructive logging that reminds us of the 1990s.'
