SARAWAK PKR has asserted that the rising protests against the state government’s plans for new hydro dams are being mounted by affected natives, and not by outsiders as claimed by some local government politicians.
The ongoing protests against the impending projects are by local indigenous people who fear they will soon lose their ancestral settlements and lands, said the party's Baram branch.
In a statement today, it refuted claims by ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) leaders in Baram that there are outsiders involved in the jungle protests.
"The protests are by locals who are unhappy with the manner in which the new dam projects were suddenly announced without them even being given a chance to voice their views.
"The locals were never consulted. That is why they stage the protests. We did not bring outsiders to stage the protests," the branch said.
It urged GPS leaders to convene consultation sessions with the locals as soon as possible to find out if such dam projects should proceed.
On January 16, rural folks in northern Sarawak launched ground protests in Mulu National Park and along the Tutoh-Apoh river tributaries to protest the abrupt announcement by Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg the day before that three new hydroelectric dams will be constructed very soon.
Residents of the Sungai Tutoh and Sungai Apoh regions also staged protests after hearing about Johari's announcement.
They denied ever giving Johari or any state government agency consent to build any dams, contrary to what Johari claimed.
Over in Mulu National Park, villagers gathered at the national park headquarters and staged protests.
Social activist Willie Kajan also refuted the claims by Johari that the locals had wanted the new dams to be built.
On January 15, Johari had declared that the state will go ahead with three more dams, all based on the cascading design, to be built by private companies.
They are to be built across Sungai Gaat in Kapit district (in central Sarawak), Sungai Tutoh in Baram district (in northern Sarawak) and Sungai Belaga in Belaga district (in central Sarawak).
The distribution of the electricity to be generated will be controlled by Sarawak Energy Bhd which is owned by the state government, he stressed. – The Vibes, February 1, 2024
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