Long Terawan NCR issue: Avoid being too emotional, rep advises

MIRI: The Berawans are advised to not be too emotional over the issue concerning the Native Customary Rights ( NCR) land in Long Terawan.

It is alleged that an oil palm plantation operator has trespassed into the NCR land belonging to the villagers in Long Terawan.

Mulu assemblyman Datuk Gerawat Gala, in giving this advice, said the Berawans should not merely listen to rumours and also news reports, as there might be things ‘ that are right, but there could also be things that are wrong’.

In this regard, he said the villagers of Long Terawan, the plantation company, as well as several related agencies like Sarawak Forestry Corporation, Forest Department, and Land and Survey Department, had been instructed to work together and investigate the issue on site to determine the truth.

“All these agencies would go to the location and investigate the real situation in the area. They would then report to the ( Miri) Resident here.

“At the moment, we are still waiting for reports from all the agencies. After all the reports have been presented, we will call all parties involved in the investigation and hold a dialogue so that everybody will have the facts; then we will be able to explain what the real situation is,” Gerawat told The Borneo Post when met after closing the Berawan Sarawak Association general meeting for 2019-2021 term at a hotel here yesterday.

Gerawat then reiterated his call for the Berawan community to not be too emotional, assuring them: “We are going to determine the actual situation at the field.

“Certainly, there are a few of our people who have different stances, but in our democracy, we follow the majority.

“We will resolve this issue after we get all the reports from the agencies involved and we will solve this problem as soon as possible, as to not get in the way of the many plans that we have not only for Long Terawan, but also for Tutoh, Mulu and the surrounding areas.”