PETALING JAYA: Sarawak timber giant Samling Global has denied stopping indigenous villagers from boarding its logging vehicles. "We did not threaten to suspend transport service or force the villagers to sign any statements," a Samling spokesperson said.
The company also questioned the credibility of Swiss-based NGO Bruno Manser Fund (BMF) for quoting Long Ajeng village headman, Jawa Nyipa.
"We do not know Jawa Nyipa and have had no interactions with that village," the spokesperson told FMT.
According to BMF, indigenous communities were not allowed to board Samling's timber vehicles until they signed a statement confirming that they had retracted allegations of sex abuse against its workers.
Timber vehicles are the only means of transport for villagers in the deep interior.
However, the company has come up with a more stringent transport policy.
"This new policy requires villagers to make a formal request for transport services," the spokesperson said.
She said that passengers travelling on Samling's vehicles needed to be accompanied by their respective family members.
"In light of the recent sexual allegations, Samling has issued a stern memo to its staff," she said. She claimed that two such memos were issued in 2008 and 2010.
"We will hand over any employee found to be violating the law to the authorities."
When asked if any of the workers had been arrested, she said: "We have not received any formal allegations against our employees."
"Samling has never stopped assisting the local communities where we operate," she added.
"But it appears that our efforts are always seen in the negative light," she said. She accused “vested parties of making baseless allegations”.
She also said that groups such as the National Action Committee and the Penan Support Group did not include Samling in the investigations of sexual abuse.
An investigation into sexual abuse of Penan women was carried out by the National Action Committee in October 2008.
Despite a subsequent report in September 2009, and more allegations surfacing in July this year, no government action has been taken.
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