Extracted from Malaysiakini

Extracted from Malaysiakini.com

Penan puzzled over existence of state funds
Tony Thien
5:03:08 PM Jan 6, 2004

If financial allocations are being made available to improve the living conditions of the Penan, these have yet to show significant results, claimed the Sarawak Penan Association (SPA).

In a statement, SPA chairperson Ajang Kiew described the living conditions of the native community as "appalling" and asked for details of how an allocation of some RM3 million had been utilised last year.

The Borneo Post recently reported that the sum comprises RM300,000 for education, RM270,000 for volunteer groups, RM200,000 for financial and grant assistance, and RM2.1 million for rural development including construction of longhouses, roads, and utility infrastructure.

"Looking at the deplorable living conditions of most Penan villagers today, we would like to express our incredulity. SPA has long been trying to draw the attention of the authorities to (the fact that) most Penan live in poverty," Ajang said.

"They do not have access to decent and safe housing, food security, clean water, healthcare services, stable sources of livelihood, identity documents and education for children. Our customary rights to (use) the forests of our ancestors are often violated."

Explanation needed

He urged Tourism Minister Abang Johari Openg, who chairs the state cabinet committee on Penan affairs, to provide a detailed explanation.

"This would have to include the names of the villagers who received aid, the number of beneficiaries, dates of disbursements, and if there exists any monitoring mechanism to check on the effectiveness of these allocations," Ajang said.

The SPA, he said, has been puzzled by the many statements made by numerous parties on various allocations provided by the state government to the Penan community.

'We are uncertain as to whether the allocations exist or if there are problems in the implementation process that prevent the intended benefits from reaching the community or from providing beneficiaries with meaningful development," he said.

He urged the state government to establish a special committee with representatives of different state agencies, the federal government and the Penan community, including SPA.

This, he added, could monitor the implementation process and evaluate the effectiveness of allocations, to ensure that the money reaches the grassroots as intended