| Abstract: | When Malaysia came to independence, considerable powers, particularly in the natural resources sector, were devolved on the rulers of the states of East Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak. The subsequent deforestation, which benefitted the logging companies (and the politicians) was hard to reconcile with the interests of the indigenous peoples. Their plight was projected internationally by a Swiss activist, Bruno Manser, who lived with the Penan people for several years. But the resulting expressions of international concern over the rate of deforestation from, for example Al Gore and Prince Charles, have received short shrift from the government of Malaysia. Sarawak reputedly continues to have among the highest rates of forest destruction in the world. |
