KUCHING: Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing has urged the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) to consider the rural folks’ efforts to earn extra income during the Covid-19 economic slowdown by selling wild boar meat.
He said the Dayak folks of Kapit had been crying foul over SFC officers confiscating their wild boar meat including kasam babi meant for sale.
“The old ladies and men whose livelihood depend on these sales came crying and complaining to me,” he said, adding that two tuai rumahs had also complained to him about the same issue.
Masing, who is also Baleh assemblyman, said Dayak elected representatives had had a meeting with SFC officers on this matter at the start of the year to express their displeasure.
Unfortunately, he said their complaints on the issue had fallen on deaf ears.
“After all, wild boars are pests to rural farmers and they breed prolifically like rabbits. What is wrong with killing these pests to allow the rural people to earn extra income?” he said.
