FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2001
Villagers demand compensation
By Arman Gunsika
KOTA KINABALU - Villagers of Long Pasia and Long Mio who are suffering from a deteriorating environment were fed up with the authorities and demanded that the Sabah Forest Industries (SFI) to compensate them for negative logging effects in their area.They expressed their long-standing grievances at a dialogue held in the Long Pasia on Tuesday. The dialogue was attended by Sipatang MP, Datuk Dr Yusof Yaakub and several leaders including heads of government departments and agencies.
They complained that logging activities upstream had been destroying not only their sacred forest, but the future of their children as well, despite repeated assurance from the government that the logging was for their development benefit.
The villagers voiced their anger and demanded that work opportunities at SFI be opened to them and that infrastructure activities be started immediately.
The also demanded a school with dormitories, a hospital and a church be built.
Apart from that, the villagers wanted a share in tourism related business opportunities as well as work on their houses to begin as soon as possible.
Chairman of the Long Pasia Village Development and Security Committee, Fauzi Daud said, they have studied and observed logging activities in the Ulu Pedas areas where SFI was believed to have been given permission to log.
"We had dialogues with SFI last year to present our demands but no agreement was reached until today," he said.
He added the villagers had many times reported their concern to the relevant authorities, but have been totally ignored.
"We feel neglected. Just because we live in the interiors doesn't mean we should be left out and ignored. Because of this, I think it is right for villagers to ask for compensation from the government," Fauzi said.
Dr Yusof replied that the government needed to enhance economic development for the people but not at the expense of them, including the minority community.
However, he added that it was not easy to balance conservation and economic endeavour.
The government was concerned about the problems faced by the villagers, but it could not ignore SFI's position either.
The SFI was taken over by the Lion Group in 1984 and the logging was subcontracted to a few contractors.
Its deputy Chief Executive Officer, KL He said the company had always been strict with its operations while adhering firmly to the government laws.
To prove this, He said, the company stopped operation since last August and are still waiting for the department of Environment's report so that the company would be able to resume operations.
"I do admit that logging activities has never been 100 per cent good for the environment. That's why we need to balance between environment and development," he said during the dialogue.
He said most of the villager's demands would be entertained as the SFI sees fit, but also stressed on the need for them to cooperate with the company for mutual benefits.
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