Locals want action taken against logging near old burial ground in NCR land

KANOWIT: Ngemah Tengah Area Development Committee (ADC) has lodged a police report over logging near an old burial ground in a Native Customary Rights (NCR) land at Sungai Baloh Ulu/Entanai in Ngemah Tengah here.

Its chairman Tedwin Beti said they were informed about the matter before Gawai Dayak and the committee held a meeting on May 31 after sending longhouse residents to check the area allegedly affected.

“We want the relevant authority to take action,” he said yesterday.

According to Tedwin, Sungai Baloh Ulu/ Entanai was home to residents of three longhouses now known as Rumah Stella Jerome, Rumah Sali Kirak and Rumah Kasau Lateh before they were resettled at Nanga Ngungun resettlement scheme in 1973 during communist insurgency.

He said they were forced to leave behind their properties including land, paddy farms and fruit orchards for security reasons under the now disbanded Rajang Area Security Command ( Rascom).

“There are six old burial grounds in the affected area identified as Kubur Pemintas Tekalung, Kubur Bukitan Dangan, Kubur Lungan, Kubur Lubok Bebalik, Kubur Kerangan Abak and Kubur Bilah Dua.

“There are also nine ‘tembawai’ (former longhouse sites) in Sungai Baloh Ulu/ Entanai identified as Tapak Tembawai Belia, Tapak Tembawai Belayong, Tapak Tembawai Sarek, Tapak Tembawai Belia 2, Tapak Tembawai Briak, Tapak Tembawai Ungka,Tapak Tembawai Latih, Tapak Tembawai Beli and Tapak Tembawai Angat,’ he disclosed.

He was accompanied by the committee’s secretary Tuai Rumah Sali Kirak when speaking to reporters yesterday.