KUCHING, February 18, 2022 - Ba’Kelalan State Assemblyman Baru Bian today said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Openg was receptive to have a dialogue with the Lun Bawang community in Ba’Kelalan who have protested against a proposal to declare a large area in Lawas as Ulu Trusan Protected Forest (UTPF).
He said the chief minister made the response when he and Persatuan Lun Bawang Sarawak (PLBS) president Robin Lusong paid a courtesy visit at the chief minister’s office.
He said he handed over a petition signed by over 1,000 members of the community to the chief minister, objecting to the proposal as it will affect their native customary rights (NCR) lands.
“The chief minister accepted the petition and indicated that the government is willing to consult
with the people to determine the areas that need to be excised and preserved, and the rights that
should be admitted,” Baru said in a statement issued after the courtesy call.
“This is a welcome move and I assured the chief minister of my willingness to coordinate a dialogue and consultation between the government and the people of Ba’ Kelalan.
“This engagement with the landowners is what should have been done before the proposal was made,
but it is not too late to do so now, and I wish to thank the chief minister for his openness in this matter,” Baru said.
Together with the chief minister at the meeting were Datuk Zaidi Mahdi, Permanent Secretary to
the Ministry of Natural Resources and Urban Development and Datuk Hamden Mohammad, Director of the Forest Department.
He said both these two officials were amenable to the proposal to engage with the people and he is looking forward to liaising with them on the arrangements.
Baru said he also took the opportunity to put forward a request to the chief minister that the
Sarawak-Sabah Link Road be extended by an extra 10km to Kampung Pa Berunut which had been approved by federal government under Pakatan Harapan (PH).
He said the extension will link to the proposed road alignment linking Limbang that will improve connectivity for the people in the area.
He said the budget for the construction had been approved by the previous federal government.
“I am thankful that the chief minister was extremely receptive to my request and I hope that theSSLR will be constructed according to the alignment as originally planned by the Works Ministry,” Baru, who was the Works Minister under the PH federal government, said.
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