Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called for stronger protection of Indigenous rights in Malaysia’s Sarawak state following a logging incident that allegedly violated the rights of the Indigenous Iban community. According to a report issued by HRW, a local company logged timber without obtaining the free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) of the Indigenous community, as required by international laws.
The rights organization emphasized the necessity for Sarawak to enforce existing laws regulating the wood trade and urged international buyers of Malaysian timber—such as those in the European Union, United States, and Japan—to comply with their respective sustainability and import laws. Notable legal frameworks include the US 2008 Lacey Act and the EU Timber Regulation, both of which play roles in maintaining and ensuring Indigenous rights are upheld in trade practices.
HRW has further recommended that Sarawak amend its land code to incorporate principles from the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), particularly concerning FPIC, which is a cornerstone of Indigenous rights protection recognized by international law.
The report highlighted an authorization by the Sarawak government that permitted Zedtee, a logging company, to log on ancestral lands without formal titles, making the Indigenous community vulnerable to encroachments. Members of the community protested these actions, and in turn, Zedtee filed a complaint leading to an eviction order against them. HRW warns that eviction would violate internationally recognized human rights.
This situation mirrors global trends where Indigenous communities face similar breaches. Investigations by international bodies have reported similar violations, such as in the US and the Philippines, stressing on how prevalent this issue has become. The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada also insists on the importance of implementing UNDRIP into domestic law to foster cooperation and respect between governments and Indigenous peoples.