KUCHING: The Sarawak authorities is prepared to interact with Lun Bawang landowners affected by the proposed Ulu Trusan Protected Forest (UTPF) in Lawas, says Ba’Kelalan assemblyman Baru Bian.
The Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) lawmaker stated Chief Minister Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg indicated the federal government’s willingness to seek the advice of the individuals to decide the areas that wanted to be excised and preserved in addition to their native customary rights (NCR) over land.
“This is a welcome transfer and I assured the Chief Minister of my willingness to coordinate a dialogue and session between the federal government and the individuals of Ba’Kelalan.
“This engagement with the landowners is what ought to have been performed earlier than the proposal was made, however it isn’t too late to achieve this now, and I want to thank the Chief Minister for his openness on this matter,” he stated in an announcement after presenting a petition objecting to the UTPF to Abang Johari on Friday (Feb 18).
Baru was accompanied by Sarawak Lun Bawang Association president Robin Lusong to hand over the petition, which was signed by over 1,000 members of the Lun Bawang neighborhood whose land can be affected by the UTPF.
Also current have been state Natural Resources and Urban Development Ministry everlasting secretary Datuk Zaidi Mahdi and state Forest Department director Datuk Hamden Mohammad.
“Both have been amenable to the proposal to interact with the individuals and I’m trying ahead to liaising with them on the preparations,” Baru stated.
Earlier this month, Baru stated the proposed UTPF involving an space of 118,163ha would have an effect on about 36 Lun Bawang villages.
He estimated that two-thirds of the Lun Bawang neighborhood would lose their NCR land if the proposal went forward.
