KUCHING: The Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Youth Exco is calling on relevant government agencies in Batang Baleh to work together in solving the logjam problem.
In a joint statement yesterday (Aug 29), the PRS Youth Exco said the move forward was to pull the resources together as these agencies could help to resolve the logjam fiasco that hit Batang Baleh.
“Our deputy chief minister, Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing took the liberty to understand the problem first-hand and flew to the site to find out the root cause of the problem. Heavy logging at the headwaters was identified as the real cause and not the shifting cultivation activities or the Baleh dam construction.
“The Forestry Department Sarawak (FDS) was the first to be questioned because it issues licenses to timber concessionaires. However, to push this problem to the department alone does not work,” it said.
The PRS Youth Exco said, “The department cannot be the judge, the jury and the prosecutor rolled in one. Thus, an independent body should be set up with the help of various government agencies related to the fiasco.”
PRS Youth Exco Hemang Yu Abit, who comes from Kapit, also raised his concern about the roles played by the Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) and the Department of Environment (DOE) on the issue.
“Is there any ordinance of any kind that can guide and allow these two entities to act accordingly?” he asked.
Another PRS Youth Exco Ramlie Likong said marine species like fisheries, reptiles and even mammal, human livelihoods were affected by this environmental fiasco.
“This problem happens in our rivers, but surprisingly, there is no response at all from our Sarawak River Board. What are its roles?
“It cannot be its only concern is passengers’ safety. Our river is physically threatened by this logjam,” he said.
Meanwhile, PRS Youth Exco, Sam Tugau who is from Bintulu, raised his concern about the roles and function of Land and Survey Department (JTS) on the matter.
“Why can’t it vet through its jurisdiction and enforce some kind of regulatory measures in so far as our land law allows? These entities are meant to help the government in enforcement.
“We would want to see effective joint collaborations, coordination and cooperation between these government agencies,” he added.
