‘Investigate NCR trespassing as claimed by Penans’

Land Development Minister James Masing is both 'ignorant' and 'irresponsible' in his stand on the Penan community's claims, says a local NGO.

KUCHING: The Sarawak Natives Customary Land Rights Network (Tahabas) has accused the state government of failing to investigate the problems faced by the Penans in Suai, Miri who are participants in the Land Custody Development Authority’s (LCDA) joint-venture schemes with the private sector.

Its president Romould Siew said Land Development Minister James Masing was both ignorant and irresponsible when he scolded the natives because the native customary rights (NCR) land ‘belonged’ to the natives.

“If we look into the areas mentioned by Masing in his statement, all these areas are currently having land disputes between the NCR landowners and LCDA and the private investors wishing to invest there.

He said Masing’s pro-establishment stand was an insult to the natives who are hoping to better their lives by participating in these schemes.

“But these companies have shortchanged them by not giving the participants what was promised.

“The benefits are only going to a few people,” said Siew.

He cited the cases at Sungai Tenggang, Pantu which involved Winsome Pelita Pantu Sdn Bhd and in Tinjar, Baram which involved 101 Pelita Plantation.

“Both these cases have already been decided by the High Court and in these two cases the natives won and their land declared as NCR…it means these JV companies are trespassing, ” Siew added.

Company cheated us

Last week Masing slammed the Penans, accusing them of stealing palm oil fresh fruit bunches (FFB) from four major oil palm plantations. He claimed the thieving had cost the companies millions in losses.

Said Siew: “Masing cannot just accuse them of stealing when in the first place the land belonged to the natives and the companies are trespassing by planting oil palm illegally on the natives’ land.

“He only sees the losses incurred by the companies but he does not think about the loss of livelihood that the natives have to face,” said Siew.

Meawnhile Kampung Ogos resident Jadam Ekern claimed the company they were ‘partnered’ with had cheated them of a few hundred million ringgit over the past 13 years.

They claimed the company, Sarawak Plantations Sdn Bhd, had not honoured its promise to them.

“Just imagine we have 2,000 acres planted with oil palm in our NCR (native customary rights) land which produce about 3,000 tonnes of fresh fruit bunches (FFC) per month.

“Given the current price of RM800 a tonne, this would have come to roughly RM4.8 million a month, or RM57.6 million a year,”

“But they gave us RM500,000 to be shared by 500 participants, but the purpose of the payment was not stated clearly and was not written in any proper document.

“Until today we are kept in the dark over the financial status of the JV company even though we are also the shareholders there.

“Each time we ask about it, the company will give all sorts of excuses not to show us the statements, ” he said.