On Today Show
— Dennis Along, President of Tering Miri Community Association – From Logging to Carbon Trading: Tering-Berawan Question Government's Intentions
— Freddie Wan from Baram, Long Tebangan – Political Threats and Broken Promises: Villagers Challenge to Baram Leader
— Mustafa Along, chairman of the Indigenous People's Network of Kelantan (JKOAK) – Orang Asli Reject PN: Focus on Land Rights in Nengiri By-election
Topik Pada Hari Ini
— Dennis Along, Presiden Persatuan Komuniti Tering Miri – Dari Pembalakan ke Perdagangan Karbon: Tering-Berawan Mempertikaikan Niat Kerajaan
— Freddie Wan dari Baram, Long Tebangan – Ancaman Politik dan Janji Yang Tidak Ditunaikan: Penduduk Cabar Pemimpin Baram
— Mustafa Along, Pengerusi Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Kelantan (JKOAK) – Orang Asli Tolak PN: Fokus kepada Hak Tanah dalam Pilihan Raya Kecil Nengiri
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Dennis Along, President of Tering Miri Community Association
*From Logging to Carbon Trading: Tering-Berawan Question Government's Intentions*
Today, almost all local newspapers in Sarawak reported the Tering-Berawan community's protest against the expansion of the Mulu National Park to include the Tutoh Apoh area, which is set to be named Tutoh Apoh National Park. Despite the general purpose of national parks being to protect biodiversity, ecosystems, endangered habitats, flora, and fauna, and to avoid excessive development, the Tering-Berawan community objects to this expansion. According to Dennis, this is not the intention of the Sarawak government through the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC).
Dennis explained that all the areas proposed for the expansion of the Mulu National Park are the lands of the Tering-Berawan communities, which have been damaged and logged by logging companies. This area was previously given as a logging concession to Abu Bekir Taib through Radian Lagoon and is now proposed to be changed into a national park. Dennis believes that the SFC has hidden intentions, either to seize their native customary rights (NCR) land or to cover up the damage caused by previous logging activities. He highlighted that this area is crucial for agriculture and residential purposes. If the area is entirely converted into a national park, the community would struggle to find food and forest products. Dennis noted that the current Mulu National Park is already extensive, covering 52,000 hectares, compared to the 4,400 hectares of NCR land they are defending.
Dennis suspects that the Sarawak government, through the SFC, intends to gazette the land as a national park and later convert it into a carbon trading zone. Yesterday, Dennis and his friends visited the SFC office to deliver a protest letter, demanding the proposed expansion be cancelled. They were informed by the Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (SADIA) that residents in Batang Ai are also protesting the expansion of Batang Ai National Park in Lubok Antu.
Regarding the Sarawak Premier's proposal to tighten environmental and national park laws to include fines and prison terms, Dennis expressed his full support. However, he insisted that the law should not only be used against the weak. He pointed out that the logging licenses are issued by members of the GPS party, implying that the Premier should first act against his own party members.
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