Communities in the Upper Baram region of Sarawak, Malaysia, have expressed deep concern after the Malaysian human rights commission, Suhakam, was stopped from visiting Ba Data Bila, a Penan village at the centre of complaints about aggressive logging and land rights violations.
The visit, planned for 26 September, was meant as a follow-up to a formal letter of concern sent by an indigenous Penan from Ba Data Bila (now relocated to Ba Oleh), raising urgent issues of encroachment, threats of violence, environmental impacts, and lack of consultation by logging companies operating in the area.
However, just before the scheduled visit, Suhakam received a letter from the Sarawak Forest Department requesting them to postpone the visit until a pending judicial review of the timber licence over the area has been completed.
Suhakam is an independent commission established by Parliament with a mandate under the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act 1999 to inquire into complaints about human rights infringements.
“Suhakam shouldn’t be restricted by the Forest Department of Sarawak, to carry out their investigation. FDS, as a government agency, must cooperate with the mandate of Suhakam. They should be allowed to investigate the complaint without unwarranted interference,” said Roland Engan, the legal counsel of the Penan communities in Baram
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“This kind of interference raises serious questions about state agencies’ lack of respect for the constitutional mandate of Suhakam and the ability of communities to seek redress through official channels,” said Komeok Joe, the director of Keruan.
The timber licence granted to a local timber company has been challenged in court in January 2025 over an alleged violation of community rights by Sarawak authorities.
The licence was allegedly granted without public tender and community consultations. Despite repeated requests for transparency in the process, no substantial information was disclosed by FDS.
The community and supporting civil society organisations are now seeking clarification from Suhakam and the Forest Department. The blocking of an official visit may constitute a form of obstruction in addressing urgent indigenous rights and environmental issues. – Save Rivers
Celine Lim is the managing director of Save Rivers.
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