KOTA KINABALU – Local anti-dam group Taskforce Against Kaiduan Dam today maintained its call for the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah government to end plans to build a dam, saying that yesterday’s announcement is confusing.
Sabah Assistant Public Works Minister Datuk Limus Jury said the Papar Dam project would be replaced with the Kota Kinabalu water supply plan, but his reply in yesterday’s state assembly did not clear the air.
The group demanded clarity from the state government over the matter.
“We find the ministry’s stand on the dam as confusing and conflicting. (The people) would be affected by the dam if the project is carried out. We also call on the ministry to be clear on the alternative solution to the problem.
“As the community directly affected by the dam project, we have the right to be informed and given freedom to decide as stated in the Indigenous People Rights Declaration for free, prior, and informed consent,” the group said in a statement.
The group said it is only protecting the land as there are indigenous communities who live along the Papar River.
“We also wish the government to consider alternatives such as the one proposed by the Universiti Malaysia Sabah geologist Dr Felix Tongkul to build reservoirs to replace one dam,” said Takad.
Limus yesterday told The Vibes that the previously proposed Papar Dam would be shelved, but phase three of the Kota Kinabalu water supply plan would still entail the construction of a dam – in the same locality of the controversial Papar Dam.
He also said an additional budget of RM450 million has been approved for rural water supply projects under the 12th Malaysia Plan budget (2021-2025), covering five new areas – Kemabong Tenom, Kiulu, Ranau, Sook and Kg Ulu Bakut Tuaran.
The Papar Dam, formerly known as the Kaiduan Dam, was supposed to be constructed to end the acute water shortage in Sabah’s west coast by 2024. – The Vibes, December 23, 2020
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