Since the 1970s, the Penan have had their forest destroyed by logging and oil palm plantations. The government has told the Penan that they have no rights to their land at all until they ‘settle down’ or start farming.
The Malaysian government claims that Sarawak is being logged sustainably, but in fact its forests are being destroyed at one of the fastest rates in the world. As the forests are logged, the rivers are silted up, killing the fish. The game is being scared deeper into the few remaining forests.
The Penan have been fighting back by erecting blockades across the logging roads. Many Penan have been arrested for these peaceful protests.
Please write raising your concerns about the situation of the Penan.
You can use our sample letter or write you own.
I am extremely concerned about the situation of the Penan tribe. Since their rights to their lands are not recognised, they are under threat from logging, oil palm plantations and hydroelectric dams. These developments are rapidly destroying the Penan’s forests, without which they cannot survive.
Logging scares away the animals the Penan hunt, pollutes the rivers and kills the fish. Once the valuable trees have gone, the forests are cleared completely to make way for oil palm. Many Penan have also been told they must leave their land to make way for the first in a series of new hydroelectric dams.
I urge your government to recognise the Penan’s rights to ownership of their land, as enshrined in international law, and to halt all development on their land without their free, prior and informed consent.
Chief Minister of Sarawak
Office of the Chief Minister of Sarawak
22nd Floor, Wisma Bapa Malaysia Petra Jaya
Kuching
93502
Sarawak
Malaysia
Fax: + 60 82 442755
Begin: 'Dear Minister'
Prime Minister of Malaysia
Perdana Putra Building
62505 Putrayaja
MALAYSIA
Fax: +60 3 8888 3444
Email: ppm@pmo.gov.my
Begin: 'Dear Prime Minister'
