Protest by NGOs is to discredit SEB, says spokesperson

KUCHING, Nov 18, 2014: Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) spokesperson believed that the protests by a group of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow is an integrated effort to discredit SEB.

"The same NGOs have been protesting and manipulating information with the intention of gaining international sympathy and support.

"But their actions do not represent the sentiment of the majority of the people in the state who want development and progress.

"These NGOs have an agenda of their own and so far they have never contributed to the positive development of the people," he said, adding that SEB is always open to constructive and truthful dialogue and there is nothing to be gained by this kind of cheap stunt.

"In bringing development to Sarawakians, SEB has always been very careful and sensitive to the needs of the local communities and operates at the highest level of integrity.

"SEB's proposed and current projects adhere to the laws of Sarawak and are guided by international practices, such as the Equator Principles, IHA guidelines and UNDRIP," he added, when commenting on the planned protests in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow.

He said that SEB is one of the main sponsors of "Energy for Tomorrow Conference" which is also supported by other reputable companies such as TNB, Tourism Malaysia and Proton.

He added:"Energy for Tomorrow Conference provides a platform to contribute to the global energy industry policy and growth and it is attended by the key players and influential individuals from the global energy community, all coming together with a common mission. "

Meanwhile, in Kuala Lumpur, as the International New York Times’ Energy for Tomorrow Conference gets underway at the Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur, human rights and environmental groups will be outside raising concerns as SEB will be the main corporate sponsor.

The two- day meeting is bringing together business interests, government officials and representatives of multilateral institutions, including the Asian Development Bank, to discuss clean energy options for the Asian region.

“The conference organisers say the meeting today will open up a debate on the theme of ‘powering sustainable development’. Yet, they appear to have turned a blind eye to the reputation of their primary sponsor, SEB," the national human rights organisation (Suaram) spokesperson Serene Lim said.

She alleged SEB’s outright disrespect for the law of the land - most particularly shown in the push to develop the Baram Dam on Native Customary Rights land without the consent of the rightful landowners - does not deserve to be condoned, but should rather be condemned during a discussion about the region’s power development options.

 Thomas Jalong, president of the Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (JOAS), and resident of Baram, said:“It is disappointing that a reputable organization like the International New York Times would not have considered the implications of featuring SEB as their main sponsor and its Norwegian CEO Torstein Dale Sjotveit as a panelist.

"SEB’s total disregard for Sarawak’s vast biological diversity, ecologically and culturally significant places, and indigenous peoples’ rights, disingenuous engagement with project affected communities and right holders, and drive to pursue quick profits at the expense of future generations should not be overlooked by conference participants and organizers.

"We are making our voices heard outside the conference, as regrettably, for such an important meeting, no representatives of indigenous communities or from civil society organisations have been invited to the table.”

“SEB’s Murum Dam has forced 1,300 people off their customary lands and into resettlement areas where the living conditions are so deplorable that they have been investigated by the Malaysian Bar Council and the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam).

" Now, SEB is proposing to build the Baram Dam, which would displace up to 20,000 people. Even though SEB is attempting to greenwash its image at the ‘Energy for Tomorrow Conference’, the company is not an environmental business pioneer, nor an innovator of clean energy solutions," Jalong said.

According to Peter Kallang, chair of the Save Sarawak Rivers Network: “SEB is prepared to destroy our collective heritage - our rivers, the land and our livelihoods. For over a year, the people of Baram have set up barricades to demonstrate our overwhelming opposition to their proposed project.

"If SEB wants to join the ranks of environmentally and socially accountable companies, a first step would be to respond to the concerns of communities displaced by the Murum Dam, withdraw their

proposal to build the Baram Dam, return native customary rights land that has been illegally acquired, seek free, prior and informed consent for all dams, as well as comply with standards for doing and disclosing impact assessments.”

Joan Carling, secretary general of the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP), speaking on behalf of its 47 member organisations across Asia, AIPP expresses its serious concern that Asian governments, companies, the ADB and other financial institutions continue to disregard the right of affected indigenous peoples to free, prior and informed consent for projects that affect them.