Samling denies stand-off with Penan villagers, says 56 chiefs consent to logging

 

Logging company Samling Group denied it is in a standoff with several Penan communities in the Sarawak Middle Baram region who erected blockades protesting alleged encroachment into their native customary rights (NCR) land.

Contrary to media reports quoting NGO Bruno Manser Fonds (BMF), Samling said it held meetings with local village chiefs to obtain consent, and that incidents which led to the blockade involved matters among local villagers.

"We have thus far obtained the consent of 56 Ketua Bilik of Long Pakan.

"Unfortunately, the Ketua Kampung, Pada Jutang, was not one of the 56 who gave their consent. As a result, Pada Jutang together with a few of the villagers set up a blockade in the area on Aug 23," Samling said.

"They also proceeded to cut up the logs that had been brought in to build the bridge over Sungai Patah," the company said in a statement today.

Samling said villagers who consented to its operations in the area lodged a police report on Sept 14 to reaffirm their consent and called on the authorities to dismantle the blockade.

However, before the police could intervene, the company said some villagers dismantled the blockade on Sept 21.

"We are given to understand this group of villagers was led by Sakaria Pada, who is the son of the Ketua Kampung Pada Jutang.

"At no point did Samling issue any threats against the Ketua Kampung or any of the villagers, nor was Samling involved in the dismantling of the blockade," said the company.

At the same time, Samling also denied allegations that its operations encroached on NCR land, or that they started extracting timber in the area.

"It is true that Samling was awarded a Permit to Enter Coupe or PEC for Coupe 01A, T0405 Layun on Aug 27, 2021 for the purpose of timber extraction.

"However, Samling has yet to begin any work in the area, and thus far has only begun to transport logs from outside of the area for the purpose of building a bridge over Sungai Patah," said the company.

"This is an accusation that is malicious and without any truth or basis. Firstly, Samling has not begun any extraction works in the area as we are still in discussions with the villagers to explain to them the scope of our works.

"Secondly, under the licence granted, Samling is not allowed to enter any lands deemed as NCR lands that may lie within the coupe," said Samling.

The group further claimed that media reports of the blockade have been one-sided and based on an article by BMF, without getting first-hand information from the ground.

The BMF said the latest blockades in the Baram region were the second against Samling in a month, underscoring the lack of community consent towards the logging activities. - Mkini