Indigenous communities score major victory against plantation company from clearing forests on their ancestral lands

BELAGA, Oct 30  2025:  Indigenous communities have won a major victory in their campaign to stop deforestation on their native lands in Belaga district, according to Celine Lim, managing director of SAVE Rivers, an indigenous and environmental rights advocate. 

Celine Lim: Since late 2024, Kenyah and Penan residents have maintained a blockade and organised a campaign demanding that the company stop clearing forest within their territories. 

 She said after clearing over 1,000 hectares of natural forest for oil palm in the last year, the plantation company has committed to a moratorium on further clearing in the disputed area.

She added the community leaders have also reported that an palm oil mill, the last remaining mill purchasing from the plantation company within 50 kilometres, has suspended sourcing from the plantation company.

She said this created a major barrier for  the plantation company to sell their fruits into commercial palm oil supply chains.

“The moratorium and suspension come after mounting local opposition and international scrutiny,” she said in a statement today.

Celine noted that the Borneo Project has identified multiple significant global buyers, including major consumer brands that list the palm oil mill in their public supply chain disclosures.

“These companies were alerted to ongoing deforestation and conflict with local communities, generating increased scrutiny in the supply chain and pressure on the mill to suspend ties with Urun Plantations.

“After nearly two years of standing firm, in spite of experiencing constant gaslighting narratives, these results are a vindication of the communities’ claims.

“The fact that plantation company is now halting forest clearing and seeking engagement with the affected communities is a testament to the power of local resistance and international solidarity,” Celine stressed.

According to her, since late 2024, Kenyah and Penan residents have maintained a blockade and organised a campaign demanding that the company stop clearing forest within their territories.

She said the community leaders are now hopeful that a deal can be brokered whereby cleared forests are restored and threatened habitats are rehabilitated.

“While the halt in deforestation is an important milestone, systemic issues remain. Reforestation is a complex and long-term commitment.

“If the company agrees to address their deforestation liability through community engagement, forest rehabilitation and other conservation projects, the company may be reintegrated into the supply chain,” she said.

Jettie Wood, the executive director of the Borneo Project, said:“We welcome this positive turn of events, but the damage to over a thousand hectares of forest cannot easily be undone.”

She noted that the company  continued clearing forest in violation of the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) and the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) standards for many months after being alerted to the problem.

“It’s only now, after losing market access, that they’ve changed course. This is a clear sign of deeper flaws in the palm oil industry,” she suggested.

Jettie said the affected communities are still waiting for a decision from MSPO, after submitting a complaint against the plantation company in May.

 

Crocodile kills Indonesian oil palm worker in Batu Niah

BINTULU, Oct 29 2025: A 47-year old Indonesian worker died after a crocodile dragged him under water at an oil palm plantation, along MIri-Bintulu coastal road this morning. 

Picture: Firemen and oil palm workers bringing out the body of the crocodile's victim from the river 

According Batu Niah Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) station, the mutilated body of Muhlis Tentra was found about 500 metres from the spot where he was snatched by the crocodile.

The station said the incident happened when he and another worker were filling a drum with water at the bank of a river inside the oil palm plantation.

It said the victim frantically sought help from his friend before the reptile dragged him under water.

The incident happened at about 11.30am. His friend then sought help from other plantation workers in the effort to rescue the victim.

A police report was also lodged.

Muhlis’s badly mutilated body was found among the weeds about 4.40pm.

His body has been handed over to Batu Niah police.

 

Abang Johari says it again: We will not export our rare earth elements

SEMATAN, Oct 29 2025: The Sarawak government has reiterated its stance not to export rare earth elements (REE) abroad, but will instead utilise this high-value resource to generate technological and value-added products within the state.

Abang Johari Openg: Sarawak to establish a research centre to conduct studies on rare earth elements
 

 Premier Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Abang Openg said that REE found in Sarawak's soil is a strategic economic asset that can be a catalyst for the development of new industries in the state.

"We in Sarawak have these REE but we will not export them because they are an important economic material for us to create other materials," he said as quoted by Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) at the Sarawak-level National Environment Day Celebration 2025, here today.

Instead, according to him, Sarawak will establish a research centre under the Swinburne University of Technology, Sarawak Campus to conduct studies on the potential products that can be produced from REE in Sarawak, including other studies related to the circular economy.

 “We will establish a research centre and we ask our students to study in the field of materials science and that we will not export REE,” he stressed.

However, Sarawak has taken a stand to utilise rare earth resources for the development of technology and the production of strategic products in this region including semiconductors.

The premier is believed to have made the state government’s stance known following the signing of a trade agreement between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the United States President Donald Trump on October 26.

The agreement, signed during the 47th Asean summit which Malaysia hosted,  included the supply of critical minerals to the US.

Last year, Abang Johari had said he did not see the need to make rare earth element (REE) mining activities its main industry despite being listed in the 10 states with high REE yields.

He had said the industry would affect the environment, pointing out that this went against the state government’s goal of emphasising the green economy agenda.

“We are not desperate to carry out REE mining activities. A study needs to be done first because it has a negative impact on the environment. We need to focus on other economic activities,” he said.

According to the Minerals and Geosciences Department, 10 states have been identified as having potential REE – namely Terengganu, Kelantan, Pahang, Perak, Kedah, Negri Sembilan, Melaka, Johor, Selangor and Sarawak – with an estimated value of RM809.6bil.