Marudi-based Sahahat Alam Malaysia (SAM) field officer Jok Jau said with the absence of any opposition party there has been increasing pressure on SAM to handle complaints from indigenous groups in the Baram.

"It would seem that natives possibly see us as the only channel to which they could bring their complaints on infringements of their customary rights land, " he told malaysiakini today.

There is understandably a general reluctance even by elected representatives from the Barisan Nasional to be seen as championing the rights of the indigenous groups for fear of offending the top leadership.