SARAWAK DAYAK IBAN ASSOCIATION - Rengah Sarawak

SARAWAK DAYAK IBAN ASSOCIATION
KUCHING BRANCH
January 8, 2007
Dear Sir/Madam,
EMERGENCY FUND FOR RH NYAWIN
On 4 January, the Land and Survey Department Sarawak demolished Rumah Nyawin, an Iban
longhouse along the Bintulu-Bakun road. Over 200 enforcement officers from the state’s Land and
Survey Department, accompanied by 20 police, descended without warning on the longhouse at 8 in
the morning and forced out the 120 residents. While the longhouse people looked on, one excavator
and two chainsaws flattened their home.
One resident, Kendawang anak Ganing was arrested by police when he tried to resist against 200
enforcement officers.
Although the longhouse people were aware that the Land and Survey Department wanted their land
for a Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) project, they had no
warning that they would be forcibly evicted in such a cruel and inhumane manner. There was a
previous eviction order issued in 4 th December 2006. Through Baru Bian & Advocates, the
longhouse people filed a case in the High Court of Bintulu on 27 October 2007 to challenge the
eviction order. The case is still pending. Their rights to live in the area stem from a 1987 agreement
with the Penan community of Kampung Yoh, the traditional Native Customary Rights holders of the
land.
During this period of heavy rains, the longhouse people are now forced to squat by the site of their
former homes. Land and Survey has ‘allowed’ the longhouse people the use of a Hall until the
longhouse people find another place to live.
Although this is a traditional longhouse community of relatives that have lived together for
generations, there have been no preparations made by government agencies to resettle the indigenous
people. The hall is too small to accommodate 120 people and their belongings. Furniture, their
clothes and sacks of rice litter the ground that used to be their home and outside the hall where they
have been placed. The community are subsistence farmers who live off their harvest. They have little
or no savings to buy new furniture, plates and glasses. They may not even have a rice supply for the
year.
This is a period of rain for Sarawak. Without shelter, the Iban community’s possessions and their
food are being destroyed. The men stay up all night to guard the belongings left in the open. Most
affected are the elderly and the young, who also have to bear the psychological trauma of seeing their
home demolished in front of their eyes.
Headquarters: 2 nd Floor, Lot 51 Sg Maong Bazaar, off Jalan Penrissen. 93200 Kuching, Sarawak
93200 Malaysia. 6-303-475 (phone & fax). sadiahq@gmail.com.
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SARAWAK DAYAK IBAN ASSOCIATION
KUCHING BRANCH
SADIA’s concern is for the immediate welfare of the community. We are initiating an emergency
fund to buy 600 zinc sheets for the longhouse. These sheets will be used to provide some protection.
The total cost needed is RM7200. Any balance will be used by SADIA to buy basic needs for the Rh
Nyawin community to ensure their immediate survival and protect against disease. SADIA appeals to
you to assist this Iban community.
Your concern is welcome and contributions (in form of basic necessities, zinc and monetary
contributions) can be sent/posted to:
Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (SADIA)
2 nd Floor, Lot 51, Bgn Chin Poh Luk
Sg Maong Bazaar,
Off Jalan Penrissen
93200 Kuching,
Sarawak, Malaysia
(entrance from behind)
Cash can be banked into the following account:
Name of account: SADIA Resources
Account Number: 4-4243686-20
Bank: Public Bank
Branch: Jalan Tun Zaidi Branch
Address: Lots 2775 & 2776 Block 10, 3 rd Mile, Jalan Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce, 93250 Kuching
Thank you,
Nicholas Mujah
Secretary-General
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For more information, please contact:
Nicholas Mujah
Secretary-General
Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (SADIA)
2 nd Floor, Lot 51, Bgn Chin Poh Luk
Sg Maong Bazaar,
Headquarters: 2 nd Floor, Lot 51 Sg Maong Bazaar, off Jalan Penrissen. 93200 Kuching, Sarawak
93200 Malaysia. 6-303-475 (phone & fax). sadiahq@gmail.com.
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Off Jalan Penrissen
93200 Kuching,
Sarawak, Malaysia
H/P: 6-016-8946976
Phone/Fax: 6-082-303475
Email: sadiahq@gmail.com
SARAWAK DAYAK IBAN ASSOCIATION
KUCHING BRANCH
The Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (SADIA) has been established since 1984 under Malaysia’s
Registrar of Societies’ Act. SADIA is an association of the Iban community of Sarawak. Its mission,
among others, is to promote and assist in the educational empowerment of the Iban and other
natives of the Malaysian state of Sarawak and to safeguard the interests and welfare of the indigenous
communities of Sarawak. SADIA has 36 branches throughout the state and an estimated
membership of 8500.
Headquarters: 2 nd Floor, Lot 51 Sg Maong Bazaar, off Jalan Penrissen. 93200 Kuching, Sarawak
93200 Malaysia. 6-303-475 (phone & fax). sadiahq@gmail.com.
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