MIRI – State and federal governments have been reminded to consult native organisations in Sarawak before making any public announcements of mega-projects that would cause serious and lasting permanent impacts on the local communities and ecosystem.
The Society for Rights of Indigenous Peoples of Sarawak (Scrips) said native bodies have almost always been left out of the decision-making process of mega government projects in the state.
Scrips northern Sarawak ground coordinator Michael Ding told The Vibes that the native rights watchdog was taken aback to suddenly hear two major announcements made over the past two weeks on such projects.
"Last week, we learned from the media that the state government is already planning to construct the Tutoh Dam across Sungai Tutoh in Baram district based on the cascading design.
“Why were the native communities in Baram not consulted?” he said. “Native groups like us were also never consulted either.”
"This sort of big dam will create a serious impact to the local population and to the forests, land and rivers.”
He explained that the upper section of any big dam would have areas that will become flooded while in the lower reaches below the dam the river level will seriously decline.
"Thousands of riverine villagers will be affected. Yet we were never consulted," said Ding, whose original longhouse is in the upper side of the Sungai Tutoh river.
He also referred to the announcement that the Federal Government will finance a ground survey to look into the feasibility of constructing a railway network to link Sarawak and Sabah and eventually to connect it with Kalimantan in Indonesia.
This Trans-Borneo Railway Project feasibility study is being slotted to start next year, Deputy Federal Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah had said on October 31.
Ding warned that this mega project would even impact the forests and mountain ranges.
"A railway across Borneo will surely involve a massive length and vast areas will have to be opened up,” he said. "And again we natives groups have not been consulted.”
"We continue to learn of upcoming mega government projects that will alter the ecosystem and impact our people in serious manners only through the news," he lamented.
Scrips wants politicians and ministers to hold proper consultations with native bodies.
Hasbi had said that a working paper on the feasibility survey has already been drawn up by his ministry.
The proposal for the railway feasibility study has been forwarded to the Economic Planning Unit in the Prime Minister’s Department.
"Once approval is given and the budget allocated, the ministry intends to commence the feasibility study next year. – The Vibes, November 3, 2023
