Bruno Manser Fund owes explanation to Penans how funds are being spent

New Sarawak Tribune

By Anak Sarawak

27^th June 2011

A lot of things have been said about Bruno Manser Fund raising money on the pretext of helping the poor Penans. But until today there is no evidence to support that the Penans are getting assistance from it.

The facilities like school, clinics and others that can be seen in Penan settlements have all been provided by the Government being led by Barisan Nasional Government. Not even a single toilet, let alone a clinic, school and other facilities are being built by the so-called Bruno Manser Fund. The question is what has Bruno Manser Fund done with money that it has collected?  Where are all the funds that have been collected for the so-called victimized Penans over the years gone to?

Obviously, there are people either as groups or individuals try to take advantage of the situation where people are living far apart from each other. For example, some NGOs, who claim to be fighting for the natives, are creating issues just to project themselves to be good and the government, bad. They are not concerned with facts in their attempts to show weaknesses of the government.

Regrettably, the groups are treating the Penans as commodities for sale in their attempts to get foreign support to tarnish the image of Sarawak and its leaders, who have been working very hard for the people and the state.  For example, a website of Bruno Manser Fund only inserts pathetic photos of the Penans just to mislead the world that they do not have hope living in Sarawak.  For those who have not met the Penans, the photos are mimics of their faces.   Besides, by tradition the older generation of Penans does not smile or laugh easily. 

In the campaigns from the just concluded State election, those NGOs created issues with the so-called rape cases involving Penan girls.  It was to show that the Government was insensitive to plights of Penan girls who had become victims of sexual abuses.

Then Baram was being dubbed as cowboy town, which featured lawlessness and ineffective leadership on the ground.  Those were false allegations. As the government has a concrete program to bring the Penans to the mainstream of development.

The State Assemblyman for Telang Usan, Denis Ngau, in his speech during the debate on the speech of the Yang di Dertua Negeri, says a lot of things have been said about Bruno Manser Fund raising money on the pretext of helping the poor Penans. But until today the Penans are yet to receive monies have been collected in their names. 

The facilities like school, clinics and others that can been seen in Penan settlements have all been provided by the Government being led by Barisan Nasional Government. On the other hand not even see a single toilet, let alone a clinic, school and other facilities are being built by the so-called Bruno Manser Fund. The question is what has Bruno Manser fund done for the Penans?

Dennis Ngau says he is close to the Penans as he grew up among them. Until now, since my early days in school, he has been maintaining a close rapport with them and has done a lot of community works with them. His late father was given the nickname "Kulleh", a leopard for his contribution towards the wellbeing of the Penans.

He says it pained him when the opposition alleges that the Government has done nothing about the so-called alleged cases of rape involving Penan girls them.  His advice to the opposition is to stop making use of the Penans to gain political mileage.

Dennis Ngau says not many people have met Bruno Manser. He met Bruno Manser in the 70s when he came to the visit their Kampung in the 70s. He can recall very well how he looked like. This guy called Bruno Manser, who claimed to be the champion of the Penans or the champion against exploitation of natives cannot be trusted. He does not appear to be a man with credibility.

All concerned Sarawakians should step up efforts to refute all the criticisms by foreign individuals and NGOs relating to Forest and Forest industry in the State.  Indisputably, the industry has contributed immensely to Sarawak's development to what it is today.

The industry is still a major player and contributor to socio-economic development and a major revenue earner for the State's Gross Domestic Products. It would do the State well if all the elected representatives of the people including those from the opposition could browse through some of the literature on the timber industry and be acquainted with some of the facts and figures that underscore the growth and contributions of the industry.

The State Assemblman of Belawai, Datu Haji Len Talip, says after having spent more than 32 years dealing with Forest and Forest industry in the State, he should have the credibility to say that the Forest and Forest industry have contributed immensely to Sarawak's development to what it is today. Besides, as a teenager during his school holidays he worked in mangrove and peat swamp forests, sawmill, woodchip and plywood

He says the first phase of capital accumulation derived from the timber industry had seen many successful private sector timber operators plough back their investments to help develop the future of Sarawak. The timber companies, which have made money, are reinvesting in tree plantation and oil palm, which is a major contributor to the state economy. They are also reinvesting in property, infrastructure, education, social facilities and public amenities.  They are playing their roles as partners of progress in facilitating the socio-economic growth and development in Sarawak.

Datu Haji Len says the State is adhering strictly to Sustainable Forest Management Policy, which is being acknowledged by ITTO and a host of credible and reputable international organizations and NGO's as a model worthy of emulation by tropical timber producers. The fact that Sarawak still has 84% of her land mass under forest cover comprising primary, secondary  including State land and NCR and urban forests is testimony to the success of this policy.

He regrets that Sarawak still encounters a number of unfounded criticisms from some Western NGOs like Bruno Manser Fund (BMF), Radio Free Sarawak and media as well as some politically aligned local NGOs.

For example, a British writer by the name of Claire Lee Castle, in her writings has been making stinging attacks on the timber industry. Obviously, she tries to reclaim the lost empire of Sarawakians. That is why she operates Radio Free Sarawak. She does not want us to be free. She is making Peter John Jaban @ Papa Orang Utan her stooge in the attacks against Sarawak.   Obviously, Sarawak should develop a strong proactive program to deny them the pleasure of seeing Sarawak and Sarawakians remaining backward and primitive.

He proposes the setting up of Bumiputera Trust Fund with the primary objective to provide capital to Bumiputeras to venture into commerce and industry. Over the years, the socio-economic divides between Bumiputera and non-Bumiputera as well as rural and urban population should be narrowed.

The equitable distribution of wealth remains the pre-requisite for sustained harmony and prosperity in our society. The source of funds could be drawn from the oil and gas, oil palm and hydro electricity sectors, which are mostly found in rural areas and the impacts are most felt directly. 

He believes that the fight for the Bumiputera interests must be left to Bumiputras themselves. History has taught the people a very good lesson that if a group delegates the power to fight for their cause to others they will end up being losers. In this respect, the Bumiputras must ask themselves whether they can trust their brains to others, who do not know their welfare and interests.  

Obviously, Bruno Manser Fund (BMF), Radio Free Sarawak and others are interfering with the internal affairs with the common objective to destabilize the State and the country.

These people are not Sarawakians and do not have the mandate to speak for the people of Sarawak. They are self-appointed persons whose agenda is to damage our state and disrupt its peace and stability.  They are envious of the development and economic progress made by the state.

They have persisted in making outrageous and false allegations against the State and government leaders. Their activities are tanamount to attack on our sovereignty and capabilities to conduct and manage our own affairs as an independent state.

Regrettably, there are also Sarawakians, who collaborate actively with them in London and even within the State under anonymous cover. They do so without any mandate from the people. Obviously, they become the mouth-pieces and stooges of foreign interests. Their treacherous activities deserve to be condemned by all Sarawakians. 

They are traitors as their evil intention is to destroy Sarawak and perhaps re-colonize it.

It is high time that the people should stand up strongly against all foreign interferences.  Appropriate actions must be taken against those who collaborate with foreigners to smear the reputation of Sarawak, the State government and its democratically elected leadership. Their treacherous activities, if left unchecked, can seriously undermine the peace, harmony and progress of the State. 

**[Action should be taken towards the Bruno Manser Funds for funds fraud! BMF owes explaination to the Penan (and the whole world) how the funds are being spent!! Obviously none of the Penan people received the so called funds/helps from BMF! Bruno Manser Fund is definitely a fraud. The money obviously went to pay the bloggers/ illegal demonstrators to tarnish the image of Sarawak and its people. 

We certainly do not need this kind of lies from Bruno Manser Fund. We do not need outsider telling us what to do. We do not want more 'White Rajah wannabes' claiming to help the Sarawakians. BMF has never help the Sarawak people and that is the reality! Wake up people!!]

benuasains

 *Photos Source:

http://sarawakupdate.com/home/local-news/the-untold-challenges-in-bringing-development-to-penans/