MIRI – Tonnes of timber logs and debris from logging zones have jammed up Sg Balui and its tributaries in the upper reaches of the Bakun Dam at Belaga district in central Sarawak, cutting off more than a thousand natives.
These natives cannot travel out to buy essential items or go fishing as the rivers are clogged by massive piles of logging debris washed down by floods over the past week.
The affected villagers are from the populated settlements of Long Keboho, Naha Jalei, Naha Nyalong, Long Bulan and Long Jawa.
Sarawak PKR information chief Abun Sui Anyit, who is a Belaga native, said the villagers are facing a lot of hardship and danger because of the logjam.
He said the villagers have already alerted the state authorities for help but state Transport Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin had responded by saying removal works can only be carried out after the conditional movement control order (CMCO) is over.
Speaking to The Vibes, Abun said the response from Lee is not sensible, as hundreds of families in the five settlements are cut off from the outside world.
Abun said those living in the upper reaches of Belaga district rely on boats to travel along river routes as they have no land vehicles of their own.
“They cannot navigate their boats through the rivers to get to Belaga town to buy essentials,” he said.
“They cannot even cast their fishing nets to fish for daily food.
“The state authorities must deploy manpower and machinery to clear this logging debris immediately,” he said, stressing that the affected communities cannot wait until after the partial lockdown ends as scheduled on January 29.
“What if the CMCO is extended?” he asked.
He also called on state authorities to take comprehensive action in stopping such a problem, which has been occurring regularly in remote rivers.
These logjams are the result of massive forest-clearing activities in timber logging zones, he added. – The Vibes, January 22, 2021
