KOTA KINABALU – Two grassroots movements have expressed concern over the alleged intimidation of villagers in Papar, where the Sabah government has planned to build a controversial dam at a riverine equatorial rainforest area.
The Sabah Papar River group and the Taskforce Against Kaiduan Dam (Takad) claimed that tensions had arisen among native villagers when officials met them on Thursday to discuss the contentious dam project.
They alleged that an official had conveyed menacing messages to the villagers, sparking a verbal altercation between them.
Save Papar River chairman Jackly Likinsim told The Vibes that around 20 villagers from Kg Bisuang, Kg Kaiduan, and Kg Bolotikon were present at the meeting.
He said they were apparently instructed by the Papar native chief, Ayub Khan, not to ask any questions regarding the project.
This instruction led to a police report being filed against Ayub Khan, regarding his alleged no-question stance.
“During the explanation given by the representative of the native chief, we found that it contained threats and did not allow the attending community to ask any questions that contradicted the actual topic of this programme.
“This has led to tensions at the beginning of the programme, leading to the deployment of the Light Strike Force to intimidate the community.”
He said village leaders were also left pressured, as they were expected to make decisions without consulting their fellow villagers about the dam project.
“We believe that people should have the freedom to express their opinions and concerns, not be controlled by senior officials.
“We also request the involvement of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate these pressured and suspicious individuals,” Likinsim said.
He also noted the invitation for the briefing was done at the last minute, a day before the discussions, leaving villagers unprepared to attend the meeting.
It has been reliably learned that the briefing was conducted by experts from the Institute Development of Studies, the project consultant, and officers from the Sabah Water Department.
The purpose of the meeting was to inform the community about their intention to carry out a feasibility study for constructing the dam in the area.
The Papar Dam or Kaiduan Dam project, as it has been named, has remained a contentious issue for nearly 15 years, spanning different political administrations, including the Barisan Nasional and Warisan-led Sabah governments, and the current Gabungan Rakyat Sabah state government.
Meanwhile, Takad chairman Diana Sipail strongly condemned the alleged coercion of villagers into accepting the dam’s construction.
“We vehemently reject any study that forces us to destroy our lives along the Upper and Lower Papar River.
“We remain resolute in our decision and call on the government to explore more environmentally friendly alternatives,” she said.
Sipail suggested that alternative solutions, such as natural water storage and more efficient water management, should be considered to address the water crisis in Sabah.
She said the dam can have detrimental effects on the environment and the indigenous people who rely on the river as their primary source of livelihood.
Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor recently announced that a feasibility study is underway for the dam project, reiterating that the state government was still keen to build the dam.
The feasibility study is expected to be completed in the third quarter of this year, with the final decision on whether to proceed resting with the state government. – The Vibes, August 27, 2023
