Fight For NCR Rights

Saratok:12th November,2008

Tuai Rumah Gayan anak Tupai,Lanyau anak Iching, Tangkun anak Gawar anak Nyelipie anak

Munan have come forward to represent the community of Rumah Gayan, Dassey, Budu, Krian,

Saratok, Sarawak, Malaysia to sue the State Government of Sarawak and Vita Hill Sdn. Bhd.

The said representatives have engaged Baru Bian to bring the matters to court.


The State government issued a licence No:T/3456 to Vita Hill Sdn. Bhd. (a RM2 company) to log

Sungai Kerian/Sungai Budu area which covers Rh. Gayan community's native customary right

land.


Members of the community had lodges Police Reports against the trespassers. The community

leader had written petitions of protests to the state authorities.


A dialogue was held between Land and Survey Department, Sarawak Forestry Corporation and

Peoples' Representative of the area in the person of Datuk Peter Nyarok anak Enteri. En. Barau,

a representative of Land and Survey Department, disclosed that the area covers by the said

licence is Native Customary Right land according to the record of his department.


The Police did not take any action against the trespasser and the state government does not

withdraw the licence that has been issued.


Within the area covered by the said licence, members of the community have titled land, rubber

gardens, pepper gardens, fruit trees, temuda land, tembawai and grave yards.

The community had hand over all the documents to the lawyer to show that they had occupied

the area before 1958. More over, members of the community have made a community survey

over their territory.


Forest Ordinance has 3 provisions for issuance of logging licences:-

(a) over state land,

(b)over protected forest, and

(c)permanent forest.


The community feels that the State government has abused its power against the community.
The community would fight in court for damages and for cancellation of the logging licence .