Alarm over destructive quarry project at Sabah’s Sg Talangkai

KOTA KINABALU – Sabah PKR Youth chief Raymond Ahuar is objecting to a project to excavate a quarry at a major tributary of the Sg Sapulut river in the state which is desperately needed by local villagers’ for their daily livelihood.  

Ahuar, who is also Pensiangan PKR branch chief, said he represents the local villagers in Pagalungan in Nabawan district who are opposing the project that is currently ongoing in the Sg Talangkai tributary.

He explained that it provides the main source of income to the residents, many of whom fish there.

Nabawan is sited within the Pensiangan parliamentary constituency.

“Other than providing a source of food, the river also has high-value fish that generate income for the villagers here,” Ahuar said.  

“Among the high-value fish that could be found in this river that is directly connected to Sg Kalimantan in Indonesia are Pait Palian (Tor) fish, or known as Kelah fish in West Malaysia and Empurau in Sarawak, and the Patin Sungai (freshwater catfish). These fish have very high value in the country,” he said in a statement today.  

Ahuar said that the villagers have constructed a “tagal” system, which is a traditional natural resource management of rivers, in several parts of the riverine area to preserve the valuable fish. 

“These works to dig a quarry will destroy the tagal system and the resources that the river could provide to the local villagers. It will affect the ecosystem in the area; the digging works must be stopped,” he stressed.  

He questioned if the Sabah government had conducted research on the impact of the quarry project before it was approved.  

“I urge the Nabawan District Office and the state government to re-evaluate the project. Stop the project that is clearly destroying the Sg Talangkai.  

“I hope the local residents and district’s leaders will also conserve this river in Pensiangan to ensure that its resources could be conserved and that it would be able to provide a sustainable income to the locals in the long run.  

“The beauty of the river and its surrounding areas should be protected by the government through relevant agencies.  

“As the area is connected to the main road, the government should help the locals develop the area as a tourism attraction spot or a recreational centre instead,” he added. 

Nabawan district is in the interior division in Sabah and is listed as one of the ten poorest districts in Malaysia in 2021. – The Vibes, December 31, 2021