Skip to content
Sahabat Alam Malaysia
  • Home
  • About
  • Programmes
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Shop
  • BMBM
  • Donate
  • Archive

SAM urges the Kelantan government to Respect indigenous peoples land rights

  • Publication Date | March 1, 2018
  • Document Type | Media Statement
  • Programmes | Forests & Biodiversity
  • Issues | Forest Conversions, Indigenous Peoples, Land Rights, Logging, Mining & Extractives, Plantations
  • Tags | customary territory, forestry department, Kelantan, Orang Asli, Permanent Forest Reserve, PRF
Share on twitter
Share on whatsapp
Share on email
Share on facebook
Share on linkedin
PDF
Blockade in Cawas, Gua Musang | SAM
Blockade in Cawas, Gua Musang | SAM

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) is disappointed that the Kelantan State Authorities still approve logging activities, monoculture plantation projects, land-use conversion to agriculture and mining in the Permanent Reserved Forests (PRF) in Kelantan without respecting the customary rights of indigenous peoples (Orang Asli).

The land conversion in PRF does not only destroy the original forest cover (natural forest) through the clear-felling harvesting method, affecting forest biodiversity, it also affected the rights and lives of the Orang Asli in particular.

Since 15 February 2018, the Orang Asli community from the Temiar tribe had set up several blockades in Cawas, Simpor, Kampung Kuala Wok in Gua Musang District, Ulu Kelantan, to prevent logging, mining and large-scale plantations in the PRF.

SAM is disappointed with the Kelantan state authorities which did not consider the recommendations that SAM and the Orang Asli community had submitted in the past.

During SAM’s meeting with the Deputy Chief Minister of Kelantan, YB Dato’ Haji Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah on 1 November 2016, SAM submitted a memorandum titled “Proposed Improvement of Forest Management in Kelantan” to the State Authority.

Among the main points in the memorandum are our concerns over the increasing implementation of monoculture plantation projects which covered 162,485 hectares or 26% of the total area of 623,849 hectares of PRFin the state of Kelantan in 2013.

An Orang Asli community representative who accompanied SAM also explained to Dato’ Haji Mohd Amar on issues faced by the community as a result of forest harvesting activity (especially logging) for the purpose of developing monoculture plantations.  We also submitted our recommendations in a memorandum on that occasion.

Prior to that, on March 25, 2015, SAM had submitted a letter to the Kelantan Menteri Besar, YAB Dato’ Haji Ahmad Yakob through the Senior Private Secretary to the Chief Minister on matters pertaining to forest management in the State of Kelantan.

During a discussion session held on 26 May 2017 between the Director General of Forestry, Peninsular Malaysia and environmental NGOs, SAM submitted recommendations in writing.

Blockade in Kg Kuala Wok, Gua Musang | SAM

One of the recommendations is that all State Forestry Departments should stop the implementation of monoculture plantation projects and other activities such as mining and quarrying in the PRF.

To date all documents submitted by SAM has yet to receive any feedback from the Kelantan State Government or the Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia.

On the contrary, the Kelantan State Government is still pursuing the implementation of large-scale monoculture plantation projects in the PRF area.

The lives of local communities, especially Orang Asli communities, arise from the disturbance to their water sheds, settlements, cemeteries and collection of forest produce which are destroyed by companies that were given licence to take forest produce and/or undertake monoculture plantation projects in Kelantan.

Therefore, SAM urges the State Authority to implement the following recommendations:

  1. Stop the conversion of PRF to monoculture plantations and mining operations.
  2. Comply with the National Physical Plan (RFN) in relation to Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) and the Central Forest Spine (CFS).
  3. Do not allow logging in forested area above 1,000m. These areas are already categorized as ESA Rank 1.
  4. Ensure that indigenous customary land rights are respected and taken into account in forestry and land management, including:
  • Stop the issuance of logging operation licences, plantation development, mining, and taking of natural resources in indigenous peoples’ land.
  • Ensure that the procedure of Free Prior Informed Consent from the Orang Asli community is fully applied in all processes during the gazetting of land and forest as well as any proposed land-use conversion of PRF in Kelantan.
  • Introduce the process of mapping and marking of boundaries together with the territories of the Orang Asli customary land based on the area agreed upon by members of the Orang Asli community for the purpose of gazetting these territories and accompanied by the granting of communal grants.

SAM is concerned that if the above mentioned recommendations are not implemented, more serious environmental impacts such as floods, sedimentation and pollution of river pollution, loss of biodiversity, flora and wildlife will occur.  The lives and livelihoods of these indigenous people who depend on natural resources will be further marginalized.

Forests Sustain Live and Livelihoods! Save our Forests!

S.M. MOHAMED  IDRIS

President

Latest

Pollution & Extractives

Groups urge second largest shipping company in the world to stop shipping plastic waste

This is a press release by the Malaysia Break Free from Plastics to which SAM is a part of In conjunction with the 2022 UN

Read More »
June 28, 2022
Forests & Biodiversity

Post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework underway

Between 21 and 26 June 2022, the United Nations (UN) Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Open Ended Working Group 4 (OEWG4) is meeting in Nairobi,

Read More »
June 23, 2022
Pollution & Extractives

Environmental groups claim that new rules restricting plastic trade are being ignored

This is a press release by Break Free from Plastic which SAM is a part of Governments urged to fully enforce the Basel Convention Geneva,

Read More »
June 15, 2022
Forests & Biodiversity

Protect environmentally sensitive areas

It is World Environment Day (WED) on Sunday, June 5. The 2022 WED campaign #OnlyOneEarth calls for collective, transformative action on a global scale to celebrate,

Read More »
June 5, 2022

Groups urge second largest shipping company in the world to stop shipping plastic waste

  • Publication Date | June 28, 2022
  • Document Type | Media Statement
  • Programmes | Pollution & Extractives
  • Issues | Pollution, Toxics, Waste
Read more

Post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework underway

  • Publication Date | June 23, 2022
  • Document Type | Articles & Stories
  • Programmes | Forests & Biodiversity
  • Issues | Agroecology, Biodiversity, Conservation, Food Sovereignty, Land Rights, Wildlife
Read more

Environmental groups claim that new rules restricting plastic trade are being ignored

  • Publication Date | June 15, 2022
  • Document Type | Media Statement
  • Programmes | Pollution & Extractives
  • Issues | Pollution, Toxics, Waste
Read more

Protect environmentally sensitive areas

  • Publication Date | June 5, 2022
  • Document Type | Letter to the Editor
  • Programmes | Forests & Biodiversity
  • Issues | Conservation, Deforestation, Development, Forest Conversions, Mining & Extractives, Planning, Reclamation, Toxics
Read more
Pollution & Extractives

Groups urge second largest shipping company in the world to stop shipping plastic waste

Read More »
June 28, 2022
Forests & Biodiversity

Post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework underway

Read More »
June 23, 2022
Pollution & Extractives

Environmental groups claim that new rules restricting plastic trade are being ignored

Read More »
June 15, 2022
Forests & Biodiversity

Protect environmentally sensitive areas

Read More »
June 5, 2022

Testimonials

Sahabat Alam Malaysia adalah satu badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) yang telah sekian lama berjuang mempertahan kelestarian alam. Ia juga mendidik masyarakat tentang pentingnya kebersamaan dalam pemikiran dan tindakan agar alam ini dapat kita wariskan kepada generasi hadapan dalam keadaan yang elok dan terpelihara. Dalam pada itu juga SAM giat membantu golongan nelayan pantai dalam memperjuangkan hak-hak mereka sehinggalah tertubuhnya Persatuan Pendidikan dan Kebajikan Nelayan Pantai Malaysia (JARING). Nelayan pantai sepenuh masa ini dididik oleh SAM sehingga mereka mampu memainkan peranan sebagai pemimpin nelayan yang meneruskan kesinambungan memperjuangkan hak-hak nelayan pantai lainnya. Sebagai contoh SAM telah berjaya menyedarkan masyarakat nelayan keperluan menjaga hutan paya bakau untuk kebaikan hasil tangkapan nelayan itu sendiri.
Jamaluddin Mohamad Bualik
Jamaluddin Mohamad BualikPersatuan Pendidikan dan Kebajikan Jaringan Nelayan Pantai Malaysia (JARING)
During the 1980s, I used to read about the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) in the news. After retirement, some time in 2001, while lazing around, I read news about the construction of a carbon in leach plant using sodium cyanide to extract gold in Bukit Koman. My friends and I visited CAP and we were introduced to SAM and her legal team. We discussed the details of filing a case against the gold mining company and the department of environment with Ms Meenakshi Raman and her legal team. That was the beginning of a beautiful friendship between lawyers from SAM and many of us from Bukit Koman. We had many ups and downs in our struggle to shut down the gold mine that was causing a nuisance in our village. But, as a community we never gave up because SAM had our backs.
Hue Fui How
Hue Fui HowSecretary, Bukit Koman Ban Cyanide in Goldmining Action Committee (BCAC)
Sahabat Alam Malaysia adalah sebuah NGO yang memperjuangkan nasib masyarakat luar bandar khasnya. SAM menerima aduan-aduan masyarakat dan menyelesaikan masalah yang dihadapi. SAM telah mewujudkan ramai aktivis-aktivis sosial dan alam sekitar. Pada era 1980 dan 90an SAM sangat dihormati oleh masyarakat dan agensi kerajaan. Apabila media sosial menguasai maklumat maka SAM pun terkesan dan masalah masyarakat terus disalurkan dengan pelbagai cara. SAM perlu mewujudkan aktivis-aktivis pelapis yang muda untuk terus membantu masyarakat. SAM juga perlu membuat perubahan supaya banyak turun kelapangan dan jangan mengharapkan laporan media sahaja. Tingkatkan prestasi sebagaimana pada zaman kegemilangan SAM di era 80-90an.
Che Ani Mt Zain
Che Ani Mt Zain
SAM taught me the importance of social activism and the role it plays in upholding the rights of people and the protection of the environment. In my experience, SAM has never hesitated to speak up in defence of people and their environment, and has gone the extra mile to champion their rights, by helping communities take their battles to the higher ups and even to the courts.
Jessica Binwani
Jessica BinwaniPublic/Private Interest Lawyer
Semenjak kami kenal SAM, banyak pengalaman dan pengetahuan yg kami dapat. Kami telah belajar cara membuat baja asli daripada SAM. Semenjak itu, bermulalah minat kami dalam aktiviti pertanian. Dengan memperolehi kemahiran dalam membuat baja asli dan penanaman lestari, kami juga telah dapat menambahkan pendapatan sampingan kami. Ini lebih baik daripada tanah kami terbiar dan tidak diusahakan. Terima kasih SAM kerana sudi memberi bantuan dan tunjuk ajar kepada Persatuan kami.
Chedo Anak Nyuwen
Chedo Anak NyuwenPersatuan Penduduk Sg Buri, Bakong, Marudi
My journey with SAM started when her community organisers took me to the meet the paddy farmers of Kedah, connecting my growing interest in environmental law with our people who struggle to work the land in the face of pollution, replacement of traditional seeds with commercial hybrids and their accompanying chemical package of fertilisers and weedicides. I then had the honour to work with SAM in the struggle for the rights of the native communities of Sarawak, in defence of their forests from massive logging and destructive mega-projects. In every issue that SAM takes up, she combines rigorous research with the realities and voices of the communities to advocate for policies and laws that care for people and nature. From the courts to the elected legislators to policy makers and implementers and to the United Nations, SAM walks side by side with the communities in Malaysia. How can I not be inspired by the vision and passion of the generations of women and men who coalesce to form SAM?
Chee Yoke Ling
Chee Yoke Lingstudent of SAM, Executive Director of Third World Network, SAM’s sister organisation

Support our mission

Do your part for the environment with your donations. Each contribution enables our organisation to create more impact towards environmental justice.

Donate here

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Headquarters)
No. 1, Jalan Joki,
11400 Penang,
Malaysia
Tel: +604 827 6930
Fax: +604 827 6932

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Marudi Office)
129A, First Floor,
Jalan Tuanku Taha,
P.O.Box 216,
98058 Marudi,
Baram, Sarawak,
Malaysia
Tel & Fax: +6085 758 973

Sitemap

  • Home
  • About
  • Programmes
  • Resources
  • Archive
  • Donate
  • Shop
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Usage of the Website Content

Get the latest news

Facebook Twitter Youtube Instagram

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Headquarters)
No. 1, Jalan Joki, 11400 Penang,
Malaysia
Tel: +604 827 6930
Fax: +604 827 6932

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Marudi Office)
129A, First Floor,
Jalan Tuanku Taha,
P.O.Box 216,
98058 Marudi, Baram, Sarawak,
Malaysia
Tel & Fax: +6085 758 973

Sitemap

  • Home
  • About
  • Programmes
  • Resources
  • Archive
  • Donate
  • Shop
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Usage of the Website Content

Get the latest news

Follow us here

Facebook Twitter Youtube Instagram
Copyright © 2022 Sahabat Alam Malaysia