Timber giant Samling Global Ltd described as "without merit" aspersions cast against logging interests following the disappearance and death of a prominent anti-logging Penan leader in Ulu Baram, Sarawak.

Samling was responding to a Malaysiakini report on claims by the son of the late anti-logging activist Kelasau Naan that he was offered up to RM25,000 to retract his statement that he suspected foul play in his father’s death.

penans meet suhakam 130208 nick kelesau The offer to Nick Kelesau ( photo ), who works as a security guard, was allegedly made by a ‘runner’ for logging companies. The go-between is said to be connected to the local underworld.

In a meeting last week with the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) in Kuala Lumpur, Nick and several villagers from Long Kerong had voiced concern that the continued presence of Samling loggers on the villagers’ ancestral land could lead to violence.

This is because there has been much tension between the villagers and Samling, especially over the disputed area of the Sela’an Linau Forest Management Unit (FMU), for which Samling has been granted a licence by the Sarawak government.

Long Kerong village, Samling noted, does not fall under the Sela'an-Linau FMU.

logging Saying "it makes no sense" for the company to behave in the way alleged by Nick and the other Penan, Samling said in a statement to Malaysiakini that it is a "a responsible company operating within the confines of Malaysian law".

This is even more the case following Samling’s public listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange last year, which has opened the company to greater scrutiny and heightened its profile, it said.

"Our vast community efforts over the last few years speak for themselves. We endeavour to reach out to even more communities in the forest, building harmonious and mutually beneficial relationships over time," the statement added.