Counsel Roland Engan (seated fifth left) with members of the Ulu Baram Penan community.
MIRI (Dec 19): Eleven Penans from Ulu Baram are considering filing an appeal following the Miri High Court’s decision to dismiss their application for a judicial review of logging licences issued by the Sarawak Forest director and approved by the Minister of Natural Resources and Urban Development.
According to Keruan Organisation director Komeok Joe, the possible appeal seeks to protect the Penan community’s Native Customary Rights (NCR) land and preserve forests, rivers, and sources of livelihood for future generations.
He claimed legal action taken by Penan community representatives does not seek to obstruct development, but aims to safeguard ancestral lands from activities that have direct environmental and social impacts.
“The action is to defend ancestral lands from destruction that affects forests, rivers, sources of livelihood, and food security of local communities,” he said in a statement made through Save Rivers.
One of the judicial review applicants, Ipa Ulai, said the Penan community has long depended on forest areas for survival.
He claimed that approved logging activities have led to environmental degradation, river pollution, and the loss of traditional hunting and farming areas, affecting the community’s daily life.
Responding to allegations that the Penan community is being influenced by external parties or non-governmental organisations, Komeok said the concerns raised stem from the community’s own experiences and awareness.
Komeok also said that claims suggesting unanimous local support for logging should not be generalised, noting that a small number of individuals do not represent the collective views of the wider Penan community in Ulu Baram.
SAVE Rivers managing director Celine Lim said development in Ulu Baram does not necessarily have to rely on the issuance of logging licences to private companies.
She noted that government agencies and existing development plans provide alternatives for infrastructure development without sacrificing forests or local livelihoods.
Lim pointed out that agencies such as the Highland Development Agency (HDA) have been established to oversee development in the region, and that the Sarawak government has announced plans to take over the repair and upgrading of logging roads with allocated budgets.
She said this means Upper Baram communities need not depend on logging companies to build or maintain road infrastructure, adding that more sustainable and equitable development options remain available for the area.
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