A coalition of civil society organisations has called on the government of Japan to immediately suspend funding for International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) projects in Sarawak, Malaysia, following serious allegations of human rights violations, corruption and environmental destruction linked to projects implemented by the Forest Department Sarawak (FDS).
The appeal, submitted in a formal letter to Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, outlines multiple breaches of United Nations principles, including free, prior and informed consent, civil society participation, and transparency within Japan-funded ITTO projects in the Upper Baram region of northern Sarawak.
“Unfortunately, we have come to the conclusion that the Forest Department Sarawak has no intention to live up to international requests and standards, even within projects carried out under the auspices of the ITTO,” says Bruno Manser Fonds director Lukas Straumann.
“We therefore request Japan to freeze funding for ITTO activities in Sarawak with immediate effect.”
Key allegations and incidents
The letter documents a series of serious incidents associated with Japan-funded ITTO projects since 2023, including:
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Targeting of NGOs and suppression of free speech: During an ITTO-sponsored community dialogue in Miri in September 2025, Forest Department Sarawak allegedly pressured local leaders into adopting a resolution that would restrict NGO access to Indigenous communities.
Subsequent instructions were circulated by a Sarawak government official on WhatsApp channels encouraging community leaders to publicly endorse the ban. These actions are violating basic rights to freedom of association and expression.
Withholding of key information from project stakeholders: FDS reportedly concealed crucial information about timber licence expiry within the ITTO “Upper Baram Forest Area” project, preventing local communities, donors, as well as project steering committee members – including Japanese government representatives – from exercising informed consent and oversight.
Secret granting of a major timber licence: In March 2024, the Sarawak director of forests secretly granted a new 170,000-hectare timber licence to a company linked to politically connected interests – without tender or public disclosure.
This licence covers a large part of the ITTO project area and was personally approved by Sarawak Premier Abang Johari in his role as Natural Resources and Urban Development Minister.
Logging and destruction of primary forests: Satellite images and eyewitness reports indicate that large-scale logging is occurring within the ITTO project area, including inside the Suling-Sela’an protected forest.
These activities threaten Sarawak’s last remaining primary forests and directly contradict ITTO’s conservation objectives. Complaints and petitions from affected Penan communities have been ignored by the FDS and the ITTO.
Interference with a human rights investigation: Malaysia’s human rights commission, Suhakam, recently launched an inquiry into reports of intimidation, forced displacement and land rights violations by the timber company.
FDS interfered with Suhakam’s visit to affected communities in September 2025 by sending Suhakam a letter asking them to postpone the visit.
Call for immediate action
Given the gravity of these issues, civil society groups are urging Japan to immediately freeze funding for ITTO activities in Sarawak. Japan is a major donor to ITTO and has been the principal international donor supporting ITTO activities in Sarawak since 2019. – Save Rivers/Keruan/Bruno Manser Fonds/Borneo Project/Jatan
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