Penan

How do they live? The Penan are nomadic hunter-gatherers. Although many have now been settled, about 300 Penan still lead a completely nomadic life in the forest. Even the settled Penan continue to rely heavily on the forest.

The Penan have a gentle and egalitarian society without any hierarchy. Sharing is taken for granted in Penan society: there is no Penan word for 'thank you', and a hunter must not eat a single bite more than he gives to others, however small his prey.

The forest is essential to the Penan, providing them with everything they need to survive. In particular, they rely heavily on sago, which they use for building houses, making baskets and to eat – the Penan love to eat it fried in pig fat and mixed with blood.

What problems do they face? Since the 1970s, all the tribal peoples of Sarawak have had their land taken to make way for logging, dam construction and oil palm plantations – driving them into towns where they are reduced to abject poverty. The Penan have been told by the government that they have no rights to land at all until they 'settle down' or start farming.

The logging industry has a particularly devastating impact. The Malaysian government claims that Sarawak is being logged sustainably – but in fact its forests are being destroyed at one of the fastest rates in the world.

As the forests are logged, the rivers are silted up, killing the fish. The game is being scared deeper into the few remaining forests. Since 1987, the Penan have been fighting back by blockading the logging roads – and suffering acute food shortages as a result.

Many Penan have been arrested for holding these peaceful blockades but finally they are starting to see some results. Some companies are now agreeing not to log Penan forest, but the Penan need to stay vigilant until their rights to their land have been fully recognised..

How can I help?
Write a letter to the government of Sarawak in Malaysia urging action on the Penan’s situation.
Click here to donate to Survival.
Click here to write a letter to your MP or MEP (UK).
Click here to write to the President, your senators, congressmen or other elected officials (US).
Write to your local Malaysian high commission or embassy, click here to find out the address.

How does Survival help? Survival has been supporting the Penan and other tribal peoples of Sarawak since the 1970s. We are lobbying for all logging on tribal lands without the tribe's consent to be halted immediately. We are also calling for an end to the harassment of the Penan and other tribes, and the recognition of their land ownership rights.