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Papar dam, environmental disaster in making?

The fate of the Papar River has fallen into a limbo for 12 years and it has remained so even till today

Updated 5 years ago · Published on 21 Sep 2020 3:32PM

Papar dam, environmental disaster in making?
A tour guide swims while steering a bamboo raft to get across the deeper part of the Papar river. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, September 21, 2020

by Sairien Nafis

Pig are among the livestock kept by Kg Bisuang villagers. The village sits downstream of the Papar river that is threatened by the mega dam project. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, September 21, 2020
Pig are among the livestock kept by Kg Bisuang villagers. The village sits downstream of the Papar river that is threatened by the mega dam project. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, September 21, 2020
To get to the dam’s earmarked location, one will have to brave a three-hour hike and navigate knee-deep waters of the Papar river. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, September 21, 2020
To get to the dam’s earmarked location, one will have to brave a three-hour hike and navigate knee-deep waters of the Papar river. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, September 21, 2020
The Papar river stretches 60km from the mountains to Penampang and Tuaran before flowing into the South China Sea. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, September 21, 2020
The Papar river stretches 60km from the mountains to Penampang and Tuaran before flowing into the South China Sea. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, September 21, 2020
Packets of rice wrapped with banyan leaves are used as food rations as locals guide The Vibes news team to dam’s earmarked site. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, September 21, 2020
Packets of rice wrapped with banyan leaves are used as food rations as locals guide The Vibes news team to dam’s earmarked site. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, September 21, 2020
One has to be careful of the slippery and treacherous terrain when hiking to the dam’s location. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, September 21, 2020
One has to be careful of the slippery and treacherous terrain when hiking to the dam’s location. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, September 21, 2020
The dam’s location is demarcated with concrete-filled PVC pipes. The one in the picture is the closest to Kg Bisuang. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, September 21, 2020
The dam’s location is demarcated with concrete-filled PVC pipes. The one in the picture is the closest to Kg Bisuang. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, September 21, 2020
Although the Papar dam was a legacy project from the previous Barisan Nasional administration, NGOs and villagers are unhappy that Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal didn’t shut it down. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, September 21, 2020
Although the Papar dam was a legacy project from the previous Barisan Nasional administration, NGOs and villagers are unhappy that Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal didn’t shut it down. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, September 21, 2020
If the dam project goes ahead, the Papar river’s surroundings will be affected. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, September 21, 2020
If the dam project goes ahead, the Papar river’s surroundings will be affected. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, September 21, 2020
Development in Sabah’s interiors attract its fair share of critics. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, September 21, 2020
Development in Sabah’s interiors attract its fair share of critics. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, September 21, 2020
The Vibes journalist Zaidi Azmi cooks rice for the journey to the dam the next day. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, September 21, 2020
The Vibes journalist Zaidi Azmi cooks rice for the journey to the dam the next day. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, September 21, 2020
Although villagers say details on the dam are scant, concrete-filled PVC pipes are seen near the Papar river. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes, September 21, 2020
Although villagers say details on the dam are scant, concrete-filled PVC pipes are seen near the Papar river. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes, September 21, 2020
Activist Jackly Lasimin is disappointed that Warisan is going through with the Papar dam project.
Activist Jackly Lasimin is disappointed that Warisan is going through with the Papar dam project.
Those living upstream of the Papar river have been objecting the mega dam project since day one as nine villages will be submerged once it is completed, says activist Diana Sipail. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes, September 21, 2020
Those living upstream of the Papar river have been objecting the mega dam project since day one as nine villages will be submerged once it is completed, says activist Diana Sipail. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes, September 21, 2020
The Vibes news team arriving at the site of the Papar dam. (From left): Alif Omar (videographer), Zaidi Azmi (reporter) and Sairien Nafis (senior photographer). – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes, September 21, 2020
The Vibes news team arriving at the site of the Papar dam. (From left): Alif Omar (videographer), Zaidi Azmi (reporter) and Sairien Nafis (senior photographer). – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes, September 21, 2020

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