Source : New Straits Times
Date : 2nd November 1993
Dateline : Kajang
Unabridged
Probe Into Groups Involved in Penan Funds Rip-off
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KAJANG, Mon. - The Government will investigate the non-governmental
organisations allegedly involved in raising funds purportedly for
the welfare for the Penans.
To date, the Penans had not received a single cent of the funds
collected by 10 such organisations based here and overseas.
Deputy Home Affairs Minister Datuk Megat Junid Megat Ayob said today
the activities of these organisations purportedly to champion the cause
of the Penans could be a smoke screen for financial gains.
He was commenting on a New Straits Times report today stating that at
least 16 NGOs worldwide, including Sahabat Alam Malaysia, had raised
funds totalling over RM600,000.
He was speaking at the opening of the Malaysian Prisons College at the
Kajang prison in Sungei Jelok here.
Megat Junid said unlike the NGOs, the Sarawak Government had set up a
special fund to bring development to the Penans.
However, its work was being hampered by the negative picture painted
in the foreign media by the local and foreign NGOs.
Aliran (a social reform group in Penang - A.P.S. note) president Dr
Ariffin Omar described as "shocking" newspaper reports that some 16
NGOs were cashing in on the anti-logging campaign against Sarawak.
He said the government should make sure there were no avenues for
foreign NGOs to intervene in local matters.
He said Aliran had always believe the affairs of the indigenous people
should be looked after by local NGOs, as some foreign NGOs worked only
for their personal gain.
He added the allege Penan fun rip-off was "cruel" to the Penans, whose
hopes had been raised for nothing.
He suggested the best way of helping local indigenous peoples was to
build up a support structure within the community.
Sahabat Alam Malaysia said today it had helped (sic) protect and promote
the livelihood of indigenous people, including the Penans, through various
ways adding that it was untrue to suggest that the funds raised to help (sic)
them had not been spent on their welfare (sic).
Its president, S.M. Mohd Idris said among the activities undertaken by SAM
for the good (sic) of the indigenous people were :
- carrying out investigation and research on the welfare (sic) of indigenous
communities, including the Penans. Assisting them to write letters and make
representations to the Government, including the Agriculture Department and
the Health Authorities regarding their livelihood and health.
- providing food to Penan communities in cases where there have been severe
food shortages (sic); and
- providing legal assistance to a large number of natives, including many
Penans, who had been arrested on charges of, for example, setting up blockades.
SAM, he said provided money to get lawyers to defend the natives as well as
for court fees, and to meet the food and travel expenses of the natives each
time a court session was held (sic sic sic).
In particular, added Mohd Idris, SAM assisted the Penans to supplement their
income by purchasing their handicraft products such as bangles and bags. -END
--- * Origin: Asia Pacific Solidarity - Sarawak (90:600/108)--