On the 25th of September, at about 12:30 a group of seven Police Field Force (PFF) personnel and one civilian policeman entered the Ruman Reggie Longhouse in Sungai Nat, Baram, in the Miri Division, Sarawak.

They went to the room of the Tuai Rumah (head of the longhouse), shouted and insulted him and kicked the furniture around. Then they headed for the room of Insom Ak Uban and demanded to see his Identity Card.

According to witnesses, when Insom asked them the reason behind this request, the head of the police party, Inspector Chan Kuang Yu, responded by punching and pushing him. After assaulting him, Chan handcuffed him.

It was only after the intervention of several longhouse residents and their demand for an explanation for the brutality that the police released Insom and left.

The police gave no explanation for the raid on the longhouse, nor for their assault on Insom. This is the second incident of bullying by the PFF in Baram in recent months.

As we highlighted in the mid-September issue of Utusan Konsumer, in August, police in Baram arrested six natives (out of 40) who set up a blockade to prevent a logging company from encroaching onto their native customary land.

No explanation was given for their arrest. No reason were given when they were remanded in a cell at the Marudi Police Station. The police did not make any formal charges against them. Neither did the police present the natives before a magistrate for an order for further remand.

Is Sarawak becoming a police state?

We urge the Inspector General of Police to take immediate action against police personnel assigned in the Baram District who have abused their authority. Such bullying by men in uniform will only mar the image of the police force in the long run.