Representatives of two groups of nomadic Penans in the Ulu Limbang, Limbang District and Ulu Mogoh, Tutoh, Baram District are jointly appealing to the Chief Minister of Sarawak and other relevant authorities to take immediate action to stop logging activities in Sungai Ureu and Ulu Madiit of Ulu Limbang and Ulu Magoh of Tutoh, Baram.

In a petition which was jointly signed by the representatives from the two groups, they outlined a number of reasons to justify their requests, some of which are:-

1. The two groups that inhabit the Sungai Ureu, Ulu Limbang and Ulu Magoh, Tutoh are still leading a nomadic way of life. Their survival depend entirely on the forest and its resources.
2. The forest areas surrounding their present areas have already been affected by logging and they have observed the destructive impact of logging.
3. They also argued that the excuses mentioned by the government that the Penans should change their way of life so that they would not be dependent on the forests and its resources any more is not logical. They acknowledged that….." we can not run away from the current of change. As such, we greatly need assistance and protection from the government. The most immediate assistance that we need is that top priority be given to us in the allocation of forest areas with sufficient size to sustain our daily subsistence whilst we try to adapt to and learn the way of life that is always proclaimed as noble or super."
4. The Penans stated that the forest areas that they request to be set aside and reserved for them are areas that have been occupied and used by them for generations in accordance with their traditions, customs and practice. As such, they have established and acquired native customary rights to the above-mentioned areas. The government should recognise and respect their customary rights to the lands and take appropriate actions to protect their rights thereto.
5. In accordance with the Sarawak Forest Ordinance, local communities (especially natives) have the right to request for forest areas to be set aside as communal forests and that the Minister concerned should consider such request. The Penans, however, claim that their earlier requests/applications made in the 1980s have not been approved or been processed.

 According to Along Segak, one of the Chiefs of the nomadic Penans in Ulu Limbang, ….."we want to be treated like any other human beings and or citizens of this great country. We deserve to live in dignity and not to be simply treaded on. We need empathy, not mere sympathy .We heard that the government allocates areas even for animals. But why not allocate and protect areas for human beings like us . We also want to survive. We are all God's creation. I don't think God created the forest only for logging companies and deprive other people of the resources. Our people were born in the forest, brought up and survived in the forest, died and buried in the forest. It's our home. It's our provider. We sincerely appeal to the good sense of the government to grant our request."

To show how genuine and desperate they are to seek immediate attention from the government, Along said, "we have to travel for four days to get to Marudi to obtain SAM's help to convey our message to the government and also to the public for support.

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) fully supports the nomadic Penans desperate and persistent appeal to the government to set aside sufficient forest areas for them to eke out a living and protect the same from being logged.

SAM is of the view that their requests are genuine and legitimate and should be given due consideration. The plight of the Penans resulting from logging activities have long been highlighted and acknowledged by government officials and other caring citizens in this country and outside. It is high time the government take concrete actions to resolve the problems.

Besides that, it is crucial for the areas inhabited by the above Penan groups to be exempted from logging because these areas form part of the catchment areas for the Limbang river system and are ecologically-sensitive. Extensive disturbance by logging in the above areas could result in series of environmental woes to residents in the Limbang basin.

Thomas Jalong
For Sahabat Alam Malaysia, Marudi, Sarawak