Red tape hinders report

Contractor in a huff over police reluctance to record his complaint against intruders into plantation

KUCHING: Attempts by an oil palm plantation contractor to make a police report on the intrusion of several Penans into the plantation have been frustrated by police red tape and reluctance to accept his complaint.

The contractor, Harry Ma said until yesterday, he still had not been able to make the report despite going to Batu Niah Police Station at least twice.

The Sg Suai Penan community who are locked in a dispute over the plantation’s land had brought their case to the court but decided to take the law into their own hands and threatened the workers.

According to Ma, an unknown number of Penans, some bearing firearms, entered the plantation in 15 four-wheel drive vehicles about 11am on Dec 19 ( Monday).

“At least one of them was spotted bearing a shotgun. They came in, taking away all the foodstuffs in the canteen as well as five liquefied natural gas ( LNG) cylinders.

“Then they took the wallet of my supervisor, who is my stepfather

At least one of them was spotted bearing a shotgun. They came in, taking away all the foodstuffs in the canteen as well as five liquefied natural gas (LNG) cylinders. Harry Ma, Oil Palm Plantation contractor

( Miri Jamak, 45) and pointed at his picture on the identification card and said they were looking for him to kill him,” Ma told The Borneo Post yesterday.

Miri who was forewarned by the workers, went into hiding at the nearby jungle and came out only at 10pm on the same day.

Ma then brought Miri to Batu Niah Police Station to lodge reports - firstly for the death threat made against Miri and the unlawful possession of his IC by the Penans and secondly for the illegal intrusion into the plantation and the alleged snatching of property such as LNG cylinders and foodstuffs.