Taking steps to protect Mulu

Penan natives from Mulu National Park arriving for the closed-door meeting with politicians and state authorities to discuss grouses over forest-clearing adjacent to the park.

MIRI: The Sarawak state enforcement agencies in charge of environment, land claims and natives affairs have been directed to go to Mulu and its vicinity to probe claims by the natives of deforestation and destruction of graves and water sources by plantation workers.

State assemblyman for Mulu, Datuk Gerawat Gala, said he has directed the relevant enforcement agencies to start investigations without delay.

Among the agencies involved are the Sarawak Natural Resources and Environment Board, State Land and Survey Department, District Office, Resident Office and Natives Court, Gala told StarMetro.

He had earlier chaired a closed-door meeting at the Miri Resident Office with the protesting Penans and Berawans, the oil palm plantation management and the enforcement agencies to try to resolve the issue.

“There will be three main issues for the ground teams to handle.

“Firstly, there must be a big buffer zone between any plantation project and the Mulu National Park boundary.

“The second issue is on the natives’ claim of desecration of ancient graves at Mulu fringes by the plantation workers.

“The native court officials will deal with this and take legal action against the culprits if it is true.“The third issue on native customary land trespassing and destruction of water-catchment areas by the plantation workers as alleged by the natives will be investigated too.

“The plantation has been told to stop all works while the three issues are investigated,” he said.

Groups of Penans and Berawans have been protesting the forest-clearing by a plantation firm at the fringes of the world-heritage Mulu National Park.

Earlier this week, they even staged a protest in Miri city.

They held a peaceful demonstration at the office of the Miri Resident and Miri District Office.

About three dozens of them held posters and banners denouncing the deforestation at the fringes of Mulu.

Police were on hand to ensure the protest did not turn unruly and the protestors dispersed shortly after.

These natives have, since last month, erected human-barriers across the road leading to the Mulu fringes.

Ukau Lupong, a Penan chief, is leading the protest that involves about 300 natives.

The Batu Bungan village is located at the boundary of Mulu National Park, which is home to the largest cave systems in the world.

Mulu National Park is about 200km inland from Miri.

The blockades were ignited after workers of a plantation company started clearing forests just next to the Mulu National Park to build roads to facilitate the opening of the oil-palm plantation.

The plantation project may involve forest-cutting and land-clearing of up to 4,400ha.

The Penans and Berawans are the ethnic communities affected by the project.