Deputy minister for urban planning, land administration and environment Len Talif Salleh said BMF had focused solely on the Penan community in the UBFA, overlooking other key indigenous groups such as the Kenyah, Kelabit and Saban, who also have legitimate interests in the area.

Responding to a question from Dennis Ngau (GPS-Telang Usan) during the Sarawak legislative assembly sitting today, Len Talif said BMF’s approach risked undermining community harmony.

“BMF sought to designate the area as a ‘purely conservation area’ solely for the Penan’s livelihood, despite the existence of a TPA (totally protected area) nearby,” he said.

He said the project’s termination would not affect the well-being of local communities as various initiatives by the forest department, ministries, and government agencies were being executed to improve livelihoods across multiple sectors.

Len Talif said the Sarawak government had collaborated with ITTO through the forest department on 16 projects since 1992 with a total value of RM68.8 million.

“The Sarawak forest department has not cancelled a single project signed with ITTO since 1992, except for this one involving the UBFA,” he said.

He said the department was set to implement two new projects with ITTO this year – one in Sungai Menyang, Batang Ai, with an allocation of RM1.12 million, and another in Upper Baram, with RM645,000.

“The Sarawak government, acting through the forest department, has no issue working with any NGO, whether local or international, as long as their agenda does not conflict with state or federal government policies,” he said.