by Jessica Merriman | Nov 13, 2025 | Uncategorized
(Miri, Sarawak — November 13, 2025) The repeated postponement of the court ruling on logging activities in the Data Bila area continues to generate dissatisfaction among local villagers and plaintiffs, who have been awaiting resolution of their customary land claims...
by Fiona McAlpine | Nov 12, 2025 | Updates
Director of Forests cancels Osaka Metropolitan University talk to avoid answering questions over deforestation — as Sarawak Premier receives Japan’s top honour for “environmental leadership” Osaka, Japan – 12 November 2025 — At a press conference in Osaka today,...
by Fiona McAlpine | Nov 11, 2025 | Updates
Kuala Lumpur / Tokyo — A coalition of civil society organizations has called on the Government of Japan to immediately suspend funding for International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) projects in Sarawak, Malaysia, following serious human rights concerns,...
by Jessica Merriman | Oct 30, 2025 | Updates
BELAGA, Sarawak — Indigenous communities in Sarawak have won a major victory in their campaign to stop deforestation on their native lands. After clearing over 1,000 hectares of natural forest for oil palm in the last year, Urun Plantations Sdn Bhd has committed to a...
by Fiona McAlpine | Oct 20, 2025 | Uncategorized
New evidence confirms that SD Guthrie continues to be implicated in deforestation in Sarawak, despite its sustainability commitments and international obligations. BINTULU, 20th October 2025 — Three ground investigations between December 2024 and September 2025,...
by Jessica Merriman | Oct 18, 2025 | Uncategorized
BELAGA, SARAWAK – The Customary and Native Land Committee of Hulu Balui has protested against a large-scale bamboo plantation by Rich Venture Sdn. Bhd. near the Bakun Dam in Belaga, alleging encroachment into Native Customary Rights (NCR) land and severe environmental...
by Jessica Merriman | Oct 14, 2025 | Updates
At a press conference today in Port Moresby (PNG), a groundbreaking new investigative report: “Malaysia’s Timber Colony: Exposing Malaysia’s Grip Over Papua New Guinea’s Forests” was published, revealing the disturbing role of Malaysian-linked companies in local...
by Fiona McAlpine | Oct 8, 2025 | FAQ, Uncategorized, Updates
What: Clearing of native forest for a massive commercial bamboo plantation. Where: The Bakun reservoir is an area in Sarawak’s Belaga region that was flooded to develop the Bakun hydroelectric mega-dam, displacing more than 9,000 Indigenous people in the late 1990s...
by Fiona McAlpine | Oct 2, 2025 | Uncategorized
Malaysian Human Rights Commission SUHAKAM stopped by Sarawak government from visiting Penan village of Ba Data Bila, drawing criticism from local activists. MIRI, SARAWAK – Communities in the Upper Baram region of Sarawak, Malaysia, express deep concern...
by Jessica Merriman | Sep 23, 2025 | Updates
UN timber body loses key member state after Malaysia project failure. “ITTO is no longer a credible institution when it comes to forest conservation and sustainable tropical forestry”, says BMF director Lukas Straumann. (BERN/YOKOHAMA). The Swiss State...
