NGOs to political parties: Support our manifesto for Sarawak's interests

MIRI, March 22, 2016 - For the coming Sarawak state election, endorsement and support is promised for electoral candidates and political parties who embrace the manifesto on substantive issues crucial to the life of ordinary Sarawakians and to the environment.

Longest NCR land case ends in an amicable settlement in Sabah

KOTA KINABALU, March 22, 2016 - Mediation by the Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak, Tan Sri Richard Malanjum, resulted in the amicable settlement of a 15-year dispute with over 115 trial

days between NCR-holders in Tongod on one side and large corporations and the Sabah government on the other.

Plans to build Baram Dam scrapped, Adenan distancing himself from Taib Mahmud

Sarawak state government bows to protests and cancels plans for controversial 1500 MW dam project on the Baram river in Malaysian Borneo - Expropriated land to be returned to indigenous communities

KUCHING, March 22, 2016:  It is a great victory for the indigenous peoples of Sarawak. Today, it became public that the State Government under Chief Minister Adenan Satem has officially cancelled the plans for the construction of a controversial mega dam on the Baram river.

In a letter to Harrison Ngau, legal counsel of the affected communities, the Sarawak State Attorney-General’s chambers informed that the expropriation of the native customary rights land for the dam site and the reservoir had been officially revoked.

Indigenous peoples losing out to rampant large sce development projects

KUCHIING, March 21, 2016: -The home of the world’s remaining forests, the planet’s biodiversity and rivers are in indigenous peoples’ territories.

However, rampant large-scale development projects without regard to the environment and the indigenous peoples inhabiting these, are threatening to wipe out population and extract resources.

Quit rent does nothing to help thousands of NCR land owners

Statement by Baru Bian

The announcement by the CM that the government has abolished quit rent on smallholder agricultural land and residential land is welcomed by all Sarawakians, myself included.

However, I want to stress that this move of abolishing quit rent does nothing to help the thousands of NCR land owners who are being deprived of their land because of the government’s refusal to recognize the NCR concept of pemakai menoa and pulau galau, both of which have been affirmed by the courts. This is an issue of the fundamental rights of the people to ownership of their land.