SAPP hopes FMU audit comprehensive and transparent
 Kota
Kinabalu, Jun 5, 2009: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) vice
president, Jimmy Jawatah hoped the independent third party auditing
of long-term forest licences under the Forest Management Unit (FMU)
which will be implemented in two years as announced by the Forestry
Director Datuk Sam Mannan, should be comprehensive and transparent.
"The auditing among others, the legal compliance of licensees
including the approved Forest Management Plan (FMP) and approved
Annual Work Plan (AWP) for each licensee as well as assessing the
individual licensee’s performance on the level of compliance based
on the agreed checklist.
"We are very concern about the rights and privileges of the natives
staying in the forest reserve that fall under FMU areas. We have
received a lot of complains that they are being chased out from
their villages and they are now not allowed to cultivate lands that
they have been living for generations. These kampung folks are poor
natives people and their livelihood are being threatened.
"We are given to understand that the FMU Concept has sufficient
protection to the natives people living in the affected areas,
including the rights and privileges of natives under the existing
laws and regulation, as well as the customary Law. It is also stated
that the licensee shall assist the government to implement the
community and welfare schemes within or adjacent to the licensed
area. Some example of the schemes are; establishment of work place
for community; development of education and medical facilities;
provision of communication facilities, active participation in the
community development projects; employment and training for the
local people, etc.
"The natives people staying in the forest reserve FMU area for many
generations and they should be accorded fair treatment. We suggest
that the auditing checklist should also place the importance of the
provision in the Sustainable Forest Management Licence Agreement (SFMLA)
for FMU areas, especially on native law, community development and
employment preference. The auditor should make sure that these
provisions are not left out and must comply. The government must not
only take care of the forest but most importantly the people," said
Jimmy. |
