(This article was first published in the Free Malaysia Today and has been updated and produced here for the readers of The Broken Shield).
KUCHING: An economist with University Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) has warned of serious economic repercussions in the State if there are insufficient funds to create and implement economic activities alongside projects planned in the 10th Malaysia Plan.
“Where there are mega projects such as a heavy industry, hydro projects, construction of highways and SCORE projects being implemented in Sarawak in the 10MP, there should be sufficient funds to finance, create and implement economic projects alongside these projects.
“This is to avoid the failures and the experiences in Batang Ai and in Bakun,” said Professor Dr. Dimbab Ngidang at a paper presented at a recent seminar organised by Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI).
Sarawak’s Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud opened the one-day seminar. Five papers were presented.
“We must learn from the past experiences in Batang Ai and Asap in Bakun. The SALCRA farm scheme in Batang Ai does not generate enough income for setters there nor does the resettlement scheme for settlers in Asap, let alone generating high income earning.
“I am not saying that they are not without income; they lack expanded economic opportunities to earn extra income. When resettlement scheme at Tunu (Kapit) is implemented there is also a strong possibility that settlers there will not likely to earn sufficient income like their counterparts in Batang Ai and Asap.
“This is why sufficient federal funding should be allocated to help the state government creates diversified high income generating economic activities for communities directly affected by mega projects,” he said.
Dimbab said: “Now, the same rationale of people-oriented approach in NEP should also be invoked for creating economic activities in order to expand economic opportunities for the affected communities not only in SCORE, but also alongside all government-funded development projects elsewhere.
“When the nation-state invokes a positive discrimination approach, it is not impossible for rural people to capture a fair distribution of socio-economic benefits and/or spin-off effects of the construction of HEP dams, establishment of heavy industry, infrastructures (roads) and modern facilities cutting across the hinterlands of Sarawak.
KUCHING: An economist with University Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) has warned of serious economic repercussions in the State if there are insufficient funds to create and implement economic activities alongside projects planned in the 10th Malaysia Plan.
“Where there are mega projects such as a heavy industry, hydro projects, construction of highways and SCORE projects being implemented in Sarawak in the 10MP, there should be sufficient funds to finance, create and implement economic projects alongside these projects.
“This is to avoid the failures and the experiences in Batang Ai and in Bakun,” said Professor Dr. Dimbab Ngidang at a paper presented at a recent seminar organised by Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI).
Sarawak’s Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud opened the one-day seminar. Five papers were presented.
“We must learn from the past experiences in Batang Ai and Asap in Bakun. The SALCRA farm scheme in Batang Ai does not generate enough income for setters there nor does the resettlement scheme for settlers in Asap, let alone generating high income earning.
“I am not saying that they are not without income; they lack expanded economic opportunities to earn extra income. When resettlement scheme at Tunu (Kapit) is implemented there is also a strong possibility that settlers there will not likely to earn sufficient income like their counterparts in Batang Ai and Asap.
“This is why sufficient federal funding should be allocated to help the state government creates diversified high income generating economic activities for communities directly affected by mega projects,” he said.
Dimbab said: “Now, the same rationale of people-oriented approach in NEP should also be invoked for creating economic activities in order to expand economic opportunities for the affected communities not only in SCORE, but also alongside all government-funded development projects elsewhere.
“When the nation-state invokes a positive discrimination approach, it is not impossible for rural people to capture a fair distribution of socio-economic benefits and/or spin-off effects of the construction of HEP dams, establishment of heavy industry, infrastructures (roads) and modern facilities cutting across the hinterlands of Sarawak.
“That tall order of social responsibility has been discharged in NEP and should be continued for the sake of inclusiveness in the high income policy in NEM so that people in the peripheries are brought into the fold of mainstream economic development.
“Therefore, mixing the correct ingredients in a balancing act between striving for economic growth and inclusiveness of rural peripheries in NEM to create high economy is certainly for the interest of the nation-state so that the lower income groups especially in rural areas are not being left out in the 10MP and beyond,” he said.
Dimbab related a story how 3,600 people were displaced in 1982 as a result of the construction of the hydroelectric power (HEP) dam at Batang Ai, Sri Aman Division.
About 1,595 families were resettled in the land scheme in 1982, of which each family was allocated 4.5 hectares of farmland: 2 hectares of rubber, 1.2 hectares of cocoa and 0.4 hectares for a garden plot, whereas the remaining 0.8 hectare for rice cultivation is yet to be given.
The cocoa farm scheme was abandoned after cocoa price plunged in the 1980s and has been replanted with oil palm. Although the resettlement scheme provided facilities and infrastructure, the farm scheme has not been able to provide a sustainable income for the settlers, and the lack land for rice cultivation seems to add to the problem of food insecurity.
The aquaculture project in Batang Ai has long been discontinued for lack of funding and found to be not economically viable to run due to high cost of feed and limited market outlets.
He said that in the 1990s, 15 longhouses, comprising Kayan, Kenyah, Kajang, Ukit and Penan people with a total affected population of 9,4289 were resettled at Asap, Belaga district in Kapit Division. Three acres of land were allocated per household at Asap resettlement scheme.
He said: “In short, there are very little economic activities in these government-created resettlement schemes today. The same argument of insufficient income also befalls all these schemes; they are not with income, but not adequate enough for supporting sustainable livelihood.
“Perhaps, a thorough assessment of these projects is also necessary. Given the sacrifices they have rendered to the nation-state over the years, surely the existing critical mass in the above-mentioned schemes deserve special attention in terms of federal allocation for implementing affirmative action programs in the 10MP.
“Federal funding is crucial to help create economic activities in these resettlement schemes whether in the form of cottage industry, aquaculture, commercial orchards and vegetable production or food processing, etc., with supporting technical advisory services by relevant agencies and a guaranteed market for their products,” he said.
