Senior Minister and Minister of Land Development James Masing acknowledged the presence of thugs and gangsters engaged by oil palm and logging companies to threaten the local people is worrying him.
What makes it more worrying and frightening is the police non-action, he said.
"The thugs are threatening landowners who are protesting that their NCR land are being encroached upon by oil palm plantation companies.
"The non-action of the police is worrying me and many landowners," said Masing (left), who is the president of Parti Rakyat Sarawak.
"I received so many calls and 'sms' messages from landowners throughout the state expressing concern over the presence of these thugs and that their reports to the police against thugs have been ignored.
"They do not feel safe. I have expressed these concerns to Zahid Hamidi (home minister) and he wants me to send these reports directly to him so that action could be taken against those who fail to investigate the reports," Masing told Malaysiakini.
According to Masing, Zahid was not aware of any reports lodged by landowners against these errant companies.
Yesterday Masing met five tuai rumah (longhouse headmen) from Melikin in Serian district who complained to him that they felt their lives were in danger with threats from these thugs.
Owners of the companies allegedly have close links with political leaders in the Barisan Nasional.
Relating the ordeal faced by the villagers, the longhouse chiefs handed over reports concerning alleged intimidation and assault to the minister.
Long years' patience wearing thin
"We cannot allow gangsters to rule this country and harass ordinary folk who try to protect and safeguard their properties," he said after meeting the headmen.
"I have decided to handover these reports to Zahid and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for them to investigate.
"I know some money is involved," he said without being specific.
Over the years, reports of intimidation and assaults have been lodged with the police , but none have been acted upon. Instead many of those who lodged the reports were themselves arrested.
As a result, the people do not trust the police, he said.
Some of the major cases that had been lodged to the police include:
What makes it more worrying and frightening is the police non-action, he said.
"The thugs are threatening landowners who are protesting that their NCR land are being encroached upon by oil palm plantation companies.
"The non-action of the police is worrying me and many landowners," said Masing (left), who is the president of Parti Rakyat Sarawak."I received so many calls and 'sms' messages from landowners throughout the state expressing concern over the presence of these thugs and that their reports to the police against thugs have been ignored.
"They do not feel safe. I have expressed these concerns to Zahid Hamidi (home minister) and he wants me to send these reports directly to him so that action could be taken against those who fail to investigate the reports," Masing told Malaysiakini.
According to Masing, Zahid was not aware of any reports lodged by landowners against these errant companies.
Yesterday Masing met five tuai rumah (longhouse headmen) from Melikin in Serian district who complained to him that they felt their lives were in danger with threats from these thugs.
Owners of the companies allegedly have close links with political leaders in the Barisan Nasional.
Relating the ordeal faced by the villagers, the longhouse chiefs handed over reports concerning alleged intimidation and assault to the minister.
Long years' patience wearing thin
"We cannot allow gangsters to rule this country and harass ordinary folk who try to protect and safeguard their properties," he said after meeting the headmen.
"I have decided to handover these reports to Zahid and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for them to investigate.
"I know some money is involved," he said without being specific.
Over the years, reports of intimidation and assaults have been lodged with the police , but none have been acted upon. Instead many of those who lodged the reports were themselves arrested.As a result, the people do not trust the police, he said.
Some of the major cases that had been lodged to the police include:
- Landowner Surik Anak Muntai of Melikin in Serian attacked by a group of gangsters armed with parang and sticks in March this year. He was hospitalized for several months. The identity of one of the attackers is known to the victim. So far no arrest.
- Landowner Michael Luang, also of Melikin had his 4WD torched by thugs last year. A report was lodged and till now there have been arrest .
- Landowner Semawi Anak Renang was almost killed when a driver on a 4WD tried to run over him in July last year. He was sent to hospital with a broken leg. Earlier thugs shot at his longhouse. No one has been arrested.
- Minggat anak Nyakin and his son were beaten by a group of thugs when they tried to stop a logging company from taking away timber from his 'pulau galau'.The incident happened in February 2011. Minggat was hospitalized for several months. When he and his son lodged a police report, police arrested them.
- In February 2012, a group of 100 armed thugs were sent by an oil palm company to threaten villagers of 60-door longhouse of Rumah Sigan, Ulu Niah, because the longhouse folk refused to allow their NCR land to be turned into an oil palm plantation.
- In 2000, gangsters attacked Ibans of Rumah Busang and Rumah Bali Niah in Miri armed with samurai swords when they did not agree to let theirNCR land be taken over by an oil palm company. In defending themselves, the Ibans shot dead four of their attackers.
Advising the police to refrain from restraining anyone from lodging a police report, he said: "There were about 10 cases this month where I accompanied the complainants to lodge police reports.
"The police have no right to reject anyone from lodging a [police report or ask the complainant to lodge a report at other police stations," said Yap, who is also a lawyer.
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