Save
Sarawak ’s Rivers Network (SAVE Rivers)
Jaringan Selamatkan Sungai-Sungai
Sarawak
Secretariat Office:
Jalan Bulan Sabit, 98000 Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
More people from Baram voiced
opposition to the proposed Baram Dam
MIRI – More than
200 people from Baram District as well as supporters from outside the district
thronged into Telang Usan Hotel, Miri yesterday afternoon to participate in an
open dialogue opposing the proposed Baram Hydro-electric Project.
The dialogue,
which was jointly organised by Save Sarawak’s Rivers Network (SAVE Rivers) and
the Baram Protection Action Committee (BPAC), is by far the biggest gathering
of people from Baram who are living in and around Miri either for employment or
studying.
“We did not
expect the crowd to be this big, and I am truly flattered by the overwhelming
support the participants of the dialogue gave us.” said Peter Kallang, Chairman
of SAVE Rivers.
Equally grateful
and encouraged by the support given by the participants, Philip Jau, Chairman
of BPAC said, “BPAC together with SAVE Rivers and other NGOs and concerned
individuals will work harder to get the government to scrap the Baram Dam
project.”
During the
dialogue, the participants were clearly upset about the Sarawak State
Government and Sarawak Energy Berhad’s (SEB )
plans to go forward with building the dam and trying to silence the majority of
the people who are against it.
In a written
statement addressed to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SEB , Mr. Torstein Dale Sjotveit, the participants
of the dialogue had stated unanimously that they disagree with these plans and
strongly oppose the construction of the dam.
They also
disagreed with the statements made by their community leaders headed by
Temenggong Pahang Ding, their elected representatives i.e., YB Jacob Dungau
Sagan, YB Dennis Ngau and Senator YB Lihan Jok and the President of the
Federation of Orang Ulu Association Malaysia (FORUM), Mr. Gerawat Gala, saying
which the Orang Ulu community in Baram have agree to the said project.
They were also
not pleased with the announcement made by Sarawak’s Deputy Chief Minister,
Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu that the resettlement site for the
communities affected by the said project has been identified to be between
Murum and Bakun, in the Usun Apau region, whereas the said project is still in
the proposal stage and no decision had been made on its approval.
The participants
refuted the statement made by SEB ’s
CEO which was published in a local daily last Wednesday which said that only a
small number of activists are making ‘noise’ opposing the said project and that
the Orang Ulu community are ignorant. However, the participants are claiming
that the CEO himself is being ignorant to the concerns and pleas of the people
of Baram who are going to be affected by the said project.
They reminded
the CEO that a 3 day meeting with the Orang Ulu communities at Long Na’ah
village during the dialogue and ‘Mayau
Daleh’ ceremony organised SEB
and the State Government last April is not the right gauge to say that all the
people of Baram have agreed to the said project, as not all the people of Baram
were present at that time.
The participants
are demanding that the Sarawak State Government and SEB
scrap the controversial project with immediate effect and halt all works at the
proposed project site immediately and warned SEB
and the State Government that they will not hesitate to take the necessary
actions if their objections are not heeded.
- END -
Press Statement
issued by:
Mark Bujang
Secretary,
SAVE Rivers
1 comment:
Alright.Lets place our bet as to whom would Taib listen to;to the ordinary rakyat of Baram or to the politicians or NGOs having vested interest in Baram port ohh,sorry,Baram dam?.I will place mine on the second one,unless the Baram people take laws into their hands,which we hope not.
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