STOP PORTRAYING THAT THE BARAM DAM HAS BEEN APPROVED AS THE FEASIBILITY STUDY INCLUDING THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA) AND SOCIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (SEIA) HAVE YET TO BE COMPLETED

                               Dr. Michael Teo with the Anti Baram Dam committee

Right: Mark Bujang, Executive Director of Borneo Resources Institute Malaysia (BRIMAS)

We would like to call on the Sarawak State Government and its agencies such as the Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) including the Member of Parliament for Baram, Dato Jacob Dungau Sagan and the State Assemblyman for Telang Usan, Encik Dennis Ngau to immediately stop portraying that the implementation of the proposed and controversial Baram dam has been approved for implementation as the feasibility study including the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and the Social Environmental Impact Assessment (SEIA) for the project has yet to be completed.

The sudden announcement in the media on August 24 on the formation of the so-called Baram HEP Community Consultative Committee headed by the Baram MP and the Telang Usan State Assemblyman to look into the relocation of the Baram villagers who would be displaced by the implementation of the highly controversial dam project has given the impression to the public at large that its implementation has been officially approved.

What is worst is that the Sarawak State Government has even issued notices of extinguishment of native customary rights (NCR) over lands affected by the so-called access road to the Baram dam from the Rural Growth Centre (RGC) in Long Lama, Baram.

Until today, the EIA and SEIA for this dam have not been completed and it’s a mandatory legal requirement under the Sarawak Natural Resources and Environment Order, 1994 (NREO) made under the Natural Resources and Environment Ordinance (Amended) 1993 that the EIA Report for such project must be submitted to and approved by the Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) which is chaired by the Sarawak Chief Minister before the implementation of the project can commence. In this case, even the size and the site for this controversial dam has not been decided.

The Sarawak State Government and the SEB have recently stated that they will fully comply with international standards when implementing the 12 proposed new dam projects in Sarawak including this controversial Baram dam. 

But we have noted that the principles in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of the Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) which require Governments to, inter alia, obtain the free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) of the indigenous people before implementing development projects and programmes within or over their territory have not been complied with by the Sarawak Government and the SEB in the case of the equally controversial Murum dam now under construction and also in respect of the proposed Baram dam.                  

Informal briefing session for a few selected community leaders and individuals as was done by the Sarawak Government and SEB in the case of the Murum dam and recently in Miri for the Baram dam cannot be considered as “a free, prior and informed consent” of or by the affected indigenous population in Murum and Baram as those were merely individuals who have not been authorized by all the residents of their respective longhouses to speak or decide for them.

There is no need to build these 12 new dams in Sarawak including this hugely unpopular Baram dam because to do so would result in Sarawak encountering a huge surplus of energy of more than 600 percent.

Even the Federal Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water, Datuk Peter Chin has also recently stated that “Sarawak is going to have a surplus power for a long time once the Bakun dam goes on line”.

The building of these 12 new dams would also adversely affects Sarawak’s financial standing in the future. At the current rate, each of these dams cost at least RM3 billion to built and the 12 would at least cost the State RM36 billion, excluding the future and usual huge costs overrun that is typical of such projects.

Further, all the problems caused by the Batang Ai dam have yet to be resolved and the problems faced by the displaced communities in Bakum and Murum are mounting by the day. In the circumstances, it is therefore utterly unjustifiable and totally irrational for the Sarawak State Government to keep building more dams throughout the State.

For the above reasons, we wish to hereby state that we strongly oppose the construction of this highly controversial Baram dam and all the other proposed 10 dams and we call upon the Sarawak State Government to stop its plan to do so.

For more information please contact: Mark Bujang 014-8775585, Philip Jau 016-8597738, Thomas Jalong 013-8393530

1.     Mark Bujang,

        Executive Director,

        Borneo Resources Institute Malaysia (BRIMAS) 

2.     Philip Jau

        Chairman,

        Jawatankuasa Perlindungan Rakyat Baram           

3.     Jok Jau Evong,

        Field Director,

        Sahabat Alam Malaysia, Marudi    

4.     Abun Sui Anyit,

        Director,

        Sarawak Indigenous Lawyers Alliance (SILA) &

        Lawyers For Liberty                                      

5.           Raymond Abin Bira,

  Coordinator,

  Sarawak Conservation Alliance for Natural Environment (SCANE)

6.     Romuald Siew,

        President, 

  Jaringan Tanah Hak Adat Bangsa Asal Sarawak (TAHABAS)

7. Thomas Jalong

        President,

        Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (JOAS)

PR to unveil seat allocation Oct 2

Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Sarawak will conclude negotiations and announce its final seat allocation on Oct 2.

DAP and PKR admitted that overlapping claims had to be solved but declined to reveal which seats were affected, for now.

But they expressed confidence that an agreement would be sealed on Oct 2.

Both parties pointed out that the chances of overlapping claims on seats with its partner PAS were ‘very minimal’.

Recently, DAP said it was eyeing between 10 and 12 seats, while PKR between 12 and 15.

Speaking at a news conference here yesterday, state DAP chairman Wong Ho Leng said PR looked at who had the highest chance of winning when it came to negotiations.

He pointed out that “we all know which party has a better chance” as the coalition did not base a decision on feedback.

The last general election was held on March 8, 2008 and the 13th edition is only due in May 2013. But PR’s crystal ball gazers believed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak would call for a snap election this coming November.

Wong, who is also Sibu MP and Bukit Assek assemblyman, said DAP had lined up capable candidates and would not field any random individuals.

“We have no problem with candidates. DAP’s candidates must be mature, responsible and are able to serve the rakyat,” he said.

Wong remained tight-lipped as to whether the party’s assemblymen and assemblywomen would be fielded in the 13th general election.

He also declined to comment on candidacy for Sibu. Nevertheless, it was certain that DAP would defend Bandar Kuching.

When pressed, he said: “Sibu could be one of the overlapping seats, which I cannot disclose now. It is not whether I’m interested because it does not work that way.”

State PKR chief Baru Bian, who was also present, said the negotiation was ‘really moving very well’ even though they had yet to reach a conclusion.

“So is PKR, we are ready,” replied Baru, when asked whether the party had identified potential candidates.

Baru, who is also Ba’ Kelalan assemblyman, however did not want to reveal if PKR would be fielding any woman candidate.

He merely said: “There are potential woman candidates.”

On the contrary, Wong last month told reporters that DAP would definitely “make sure the rights of women will be respected.”

Wong and Baru also unanimously said their state negotiation teams had the absolute authority and autonomy to make decisions.

“We decide and inform them (DAP national headquarters) that this is our list so that they can prepare the letters of authorisation as stipulated under the Election Laws,” said Wong.

Baru assured: “At this point of time, we have been given the mandate but, as a procedure, we need to report to Kuala Lumpur.”

PAS leaders were absent from the meeting as they had ‘party commitments’ in Terengganu.

PKR Miri And Pakatan Rakyat Hold Dual Celebration Modest Scale

 MIRI: Pakatan Rakyat Miri celebrated Malaysia Day and Mid Autumn Festival on a modest scale on Thursday.

The dual celebration which took place at PKR Miri office drew a small crowd of fewer than 100, in contrast to a few thousand people at the SUPP Miri Youth organised street party nearby.

“We cannot fight money with money, but do what we can to remind people what Pakatan Rakyat stands for,” said PKR Miri chairman Dr Michael Teo who announced the winners for a lucky draw for 10 gift hampers and 100 ‘ang pows’.

Despite the drizzle, the small crowd passed around mooncakes after a cake-cutting session with Bukit Lanjan assemblywoman Elizabeth Wong, Piasau assemblyman Alan Ling Sie Kiong, PKR Sarawak Youth secretary Zulhaidah Suboh, Dr Teo and DAP Senadin chairlady Lim Su Kien.

The organisers and supporters also held a procession with flags and lanterns around town, which cut through the street for the SUPP Miri-organised street party without incident.