KUCHING: Penan headman Juwin Lehan
of Long Win village in Tutoh, Baram demands from a local newspaper, the Borneo
Post a full apology and retraction of
the article with the headline ‘Penan sever ties with rights, environmental
groups’ which was featured in the page two of the paper on May 8, 2012.
Juwin in an telephone interview
today with BRIMAS (Borneo Resources Institute Malaysia) said that what was
written in the paper were false and he never knew there were journalists
present recording his meeting with the Miri Resident, Antonio Khati Galis and
the Penan Community leader Temenggong Datuk Hassan Sui at the former’s office.
“I was invited to the Resident’s
Office by Temenggong Datuk Hassan Sui for a meeting with the Resident and
himself and initially, I was not sure what the meeting was about,” said Juwin.
Later, when Juwin and his wife
went to the Resident’s Office, he learnt that the meeting was to inform him
that his name has been short listed as a candidate to be a Community Chief or
Penghulu.
“During the meeting, apart from
the Resident and the Temenggong there were a few other people present whom I do
not recognise.
“They asked me questions about my
involvement with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and warned me that I
would not be qualified to be Penghulu if I continue to work with NGOs,” Juwin
said, denying that he ever made a statement that said that he was misled by
local and foreign human rights groups including Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Friends
of the Earth Malaysia).
He also denied that the Penan
communities had not benefited from the funds raised by the groups to assist
their community.
“All I said was the Penans are
still lagging behind other communities. However we are not against development
and we are willing to work with anyone who is willing to assist our community
be it the government or the NGOs.
“I am very disappointed with
whoever was the mischievous reporter who had very irresponsibly and unethically
put words into my mouth and distorted what I had actually said during the
meeting.
“In any case, I am not desperate
for any position, Penghulu or otherwise,” added Juwin.
Meanwhile, BRIMAS Executive
Secretary Mark Bujang alleged that Juwin was misled and trapped by the Resident
Antonio Khati Galis and Temenggong Hasan Sui to come to the office and to
condemn NGOs.
“They wanted to make use of him to
say bad things about NGOs in exchange for a Penghulu appointment.
“They have their own reasons and
motive for doing so,” said Bujang, pointing out that BRIMAS was disappointed
with the article in their daily alleging that the Penans were being manipulated
by the NGOs.
“The media should be more
responsible in their reporting and should not distort the truth to benefit certain
people in power,” he added.
It is understood that some NGO
lawyers are studying the statement made by Juwin to the Borneo Post and are
trying to get his full details before
deciding whether to take legal action or not.
In the article, Juwin was quoted
to have said that the Penan community in Baram had now realised that local and
foreign human rights groups never really cared for their plight when they
claimed to champion their rights locally and internationally.
He said that the community from Apoh
Tutoh in the interior of Baram had now realised that they had been taken for a
ride and misled by these groups including Sahabat Alam (Friend of the Earth).
He said that they were showered
with many promises and they said they would bring changes to their community.
They were all just empty and sweet
promises as nothing good had come out from their promises, he said, pointing
out that they were fooled by the groups to erect blockades in the interior of
Baram.
“Funds were raised internationally
by the groups but none was given to the community and they had not benefitted
from the funds raised,” he added.
The Penan chief said that his
community no longer wanted to have any connection and relation with those
organisations.
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