Public reminded against speculation as SFC clears encroachers from Similajau National Park

SIBU (Sept 13): The public is reminded to refrain from speculating about the coordinated operation carried out jointly by enforcement agencies in the Similajau National Park area recently.

The Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) in a statement said the speculation in the form of incitement has been made by certain parties who accuse the government of acting inhumanely when evicting villagers in the area.

“The situation has been going on since 2004 when there were encroachments such as illegal logging, exploration for agricultural purposes, erecting illegal structures including settling in the Similajau National Park area by foreigners who became workers in oil palm plantations operated by illegal settlers in Similajau National Park land,” it said.

SFC said it had implemented various efforts to combat encroachment activities in the past 20 years, and the recent operation was conducted after obtaining a warrant of eviction from the court to evict the trespassers who occupied the national park illegally.

“The eviction action was also guided by existing jurisdiction through the National Parks and Nature Reserves Ordinance 1998.

“The act of entering a National Park without the permission of the Controller of National Parks and natural reserves is an offense in the ordinance,” it said.

SFC led the operation coordinated by the Sarawak Security Enforcement Unit in collaboration with the police, the Immigration Department, Land and Survey Department, Sarawak Attorney General Department and the Bintulu Divisional Resident Office.

Similajau National Park, with an area of 7,064 hectares was gazetted in 1976 while Similajau National Park Ext 1 was gazetted on Feb 17, 2000.

The demarcation of Similajau National Park was implemented and certified by the Land and Survey Department in 2018.