KUALA LUMPUR, March 10 – Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) and SAVE Rivers have voiced their strong support for the indigenous communities of Logan Entasan, Lobang Kompeni, and Sungai Brit in rejecting the Marudi Forest Conservation and Restoration Project. The NGOs argue that the carbon offset project, covering 25,675 hectares within the LPF/0008 concession licensed to Samling, violates native customary rights (NCR) and lacks free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC).
Highlighting the broader implications, SAVE Rivers’ Managing Director, Celine Lim, condemned carbon credit schemes for enabling big polluters to continue emitting greenhouse gases under the guise of sustainability. SAM President Meenakshi Raman reinforced this stance, urging Sarawak and federal authorities to prioritize indigenous land rights over flawed carbon market solutions.
