Penan rights defender Komeok Joe and anti-Sarawak dams activist Peter Kallang have been honoured with the Bruno Manser Prize for Moral Courage, announced Swiss NGO Bruno Manser Fund.

They are the first recipients of the new award, made in recognition of their commitment in defending environmental and human rights.

Joe, a member of indigenous peoples NGO Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (Joas), was honoured for his work to protect Sarawak’s forests and to obtain state recognition for the land rights of the Penan people since the 1980s.

The other recipient, grassroots network Save Rivers chairperson Kallang, received accolades for defending indigenous peoples’ livelihoods against the threat of multiple dam constructions through Sarawak’s massive plans.

The activist is best known for convincing the Sarawak government to cancel the Baram Dam project, which would have led to the resettlement of an estimated 20,000 indigenous residents, had it proceeded.

Bruno Manser estate representative Kaspar Müller heaped praised on Joe and Kallang.

“You receive this award in the name of all of us, and we all do it with our deepest and profoundest respect for your long engagement in favour of the rights of indigenous people and for the protection of the rainforest.

“Congratulations and thank you for all you have done and what you have achieved.

“(Environmentalist) Bruno Manser, who disappeared 16 years ago, would be very proud of you,” Müller said.

The award was named after Swiss activist Bruno Manser, who lived with the Penan people in Borneo’s rainforest between 1984 and 1990 before he mysteriously disappeared.

Manser was known for defending the Penan’s rights against logging activities, and went missing in Sarawak’s rainforest in 2000.