Malaysian plantation company Kuala Lumpur Kepong (KLK Bhd) yesterday faced protests from green NGOs who urge them to withdraw from native customary land in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Sam) and Friends of the Orangutans (Foto) said KLK must cease all activities at Lot 5 in Collingwood Bay, PNG so as to not cause further shame to Malaysia.

“The communities’ resistance against KLK Bhd’s operations in Collingwood Bay is high and in order not to cause further embarrassment to Malaysia.

"Sam and Foto demand that KLK Bhd should respect the rights and wishes of these communities, cease all operations and leave the area immediately,” the NGOs said in a statement after the demonstration in front of KLK’s Ipoh office.

The indigenous Maisin people claim that Lot 5 is part of their native customary land.

The 5,992ha plot consists largely of forests, and tall grass fields which the Maisin use annually to hunt game.

KLK Bhd had allegedly acquired Lot 5 as well as Lots 113C and 143C after it and Batu Kawan Bhd bought a 69 percent share in from Singapore based Collingwood Plantation Pte, via a Malaysian national living in PNG.

The Singaporean firm had registered a 99-year state lease for Lot 5, and two 49 year Special Agriculture and Business Leases (SABLs) for the two other lots, which have a combined area of 38,350ha.

KLK Bhd has, however, lost its right to develop Lots 113C and 143C after a local high court ordered the state to cancel the SABLs in May following a legal suit filed by the lots' customary landowners.