Extracted from Malaysiakini

S'wak group wants Baram dam project halted

Joseph Tawie | Jun 29, 09 11:08am

A group of natives from Baram comprising residents of eight Kanyan and Kenyah longhouses are up in arms against the construction of the proposed Baram hydro-electric dam to be sited between Kampung Long Kessah and Kampung Nahah'a in the middle of Batang (river) Baram.

"We will fight it all out against the implementation of the dam no matter what," said the leader of the group, Engan Laing, a 53 year old Kanyan from one of the longhouses which will be affected by the construction of the dam.

In a statement emailed to Malaysiakini, Engan said that if the dam is to be constructed, it will affect and displace at least eight longhouses: Kampung Long Nahah'a, Kampung Long Liam, Kampung Long San, Kampung Selatong Kanan and Kiri, Kampung Long Anap, Kampung Long Palai, and Kampung Long Jeeh in upper Baram.

"We therefore call on the government of Sarawak to abandon the implementation of the said dam," he said, adding that the group had personally visited the people displaced by the Batang Ai and Bakun hydro-electric dams.

"We asked about being resettled and we found that at least 90 percent of them are very unhappy with the way they have been treated by the government and if given a choice, they would prefer to return and live in their former longhouses now submerged in the reservoirs of the Batang Ai and Bakun dams," Engan said.

He said Penans affected by the Murum dam now under construction, had also expressed dissatisfaction with the dam, project which they said were forced down their throat by the government.

After hearing of the problems facing the Penans, he said the group was very worried that they too would face the same problems with the construction of the Baram dam.

Engan led to meet lawyer Harrison Ngau Laing at his office in Miri on Saturday morning.

He said that Harrison was prepared to undertake to assist the people of Baram to fight and help resolve issues pertaining to the dam.

'Negligent and irresponsible'

Harrison, when contacted, confirmed that he would take up their case.

He also said that there was no resettlement ordinance or rules in Sarawak, and it was further proof of how "negligent, reckless, irresponsible and incompetent" the authorities were.

Harrison also said that if the authorities were not able to resolve all issues and problems related to the project the authorities should abandon the Baram dam project.

"There is no need or justification, economic or whatsoever for this Baram dam as it will create more problems for our people and the State. Even for electricity needs of the future Sarawak will have more than enough of it from the Batang Ai, Bakun and Murum dams.

"The only people who will profit from all the construction will be the contractors and financiers," Harrison said.

The Federal government had allocated some RM1.03 billion for the construction of an access road that would link Miri with the proposed Baram dam project. The Baram dam is projected to have 1,000MV capacity.

Meanwhile, James Masing who is Sarawak Land Development Minister, has agreed to a suggestion that it was timely for the Sarawak to have a resettlement ordinance given the development that would take place in the near future.

"There is a need for the setting up of the ordinance because resettlement will become one of the major social changes taking place amidst the development of the state such as the construction of hydro-electric dams.

"Enactment of such ordinance should be looked into seriously and should cover all aspects of development in the state as resettlement will definitely become a main issue, a new phenomenon that would change Sarawak's social fabric," Masing added.