An emergency motion to debate on the arrest last week of prominent indigenous rights activist Nicholas Mujah and six others was rejected by Parliament Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia in chambers.  

lundu native arson case 071207 nicholas mujah Bandar Kuching parliamentarian Chong Chieng Jen yesterday submitted the motion under Standing Order 18(1) to debate the arrest of Mujah ( right ) and six others allegedly for causing a fire at a timber camp in Sebuyau, Sarawak.

Besides the lawyer, the others arrested include longhouse chiefs Philip Bakat, Neli Nimpang, Sadun Atun and villagers Bawi Atman and Numpang Suntai.

Pandikar denied the motion as it was related to land matters which are under the purview of the state government.

“With that your (Chong’s) motion is against Section 23(1)(q)(I) of the Standing Orders,” said Pandikar.

The fire had destroyed the workers quarters and other properties belonging to Royal Billion Sdn Bhd, a logging contractor of Quality Concrete Holdings.

Quality Concrete is supposedly partly-owned and directed by Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud’s sister, Raziah Mahmud. The company possesses a Forestry Department licence for logging in a disputed 3,305ha of forests.

In their claim, the residents of six Iban longhouses note that the land was gazetted as native customary land in 1956 and Mujah is currently assisting the villagers in their dispute against Quality Concrete.