KOTA KINABALU: Villagers impacted by the proposed Kaiduan
Dam must be consulted and collectively
give the nod before researchers are allowed access to carry out a Social Impact
Assessment (SIA), the Task Force Against Kaiduan Dam (TAKaD) said today.
The movement’s chairman Nousi Giun said if villagers
decide that they do not wish to allow researchers from the Institute for
Development Studies (IDS) Sabah to visit them, they will form a
blockade to keep them out.
He also raised the need for communities to be involved in
the selection of both SIA and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
consultants.
Nousi said TAKaD had at last week’s briefing organised by
the Sabah Water Department informed an
IDS representative that the movement could not speak for
communities and needed to hold
discussions with them.
He said at the briefing, Penampang District Officer
Luvita Koisun had announced IDS was going to
enter Ulu Papar this month to start the SIA process,
while the Sabah Water Department had shared it planned to hold a session at
Kampung Terian and Kampung Buayan next month.
“Communities will make a decision whether to allow researchers
in. It is not for us, IDS or the Sabah
Water Department to make this choice. If they say yes,
then researchers will be allowed in and if they say no, the parties in this
matter must respect that choice.
“We understand that villagers will hold a blockade if
they say no and their wishes are not respected,” Nousi said in a statement in
response to the recent Kota Kinabalu Water Supply Phase Three (Kaiduan)
briefing.
Nousi said while it was good that a briefing was held on
March 31, there was limited time to ask questions and to voice concerns. He
also noted that some stakeholders such as the elected
representatives for the area were not invited to take
part in the briefing and dialogue.
“We used the opportunity to stress that a public forum or
hearing must be held and that it should
involve the people of Kota Kinabalu and Penampang and
other stakeholders before the question of
holding studies is even raised.
“We disagree with Sabah Water Department deputy director
Teo Chee Kong’s statement that a public forum can only be held after the social
and environmental impact studies. Based on the briefing, it was clear to us
that there are still many matters that must be addressed before any impact
study can be undertaken,” he said.
Nousi said it was understood that the survey form for one
study focuses mainly on the issue of
compensation and does not look into matters that are more
important.
He reiterated TAKaD’s stand that a comprehensive study is
needed on alternative water supply for the West Coast’s long term needs.
“At the briefing, three alternatives were shared and we
were told these cannot be implemented due to high costs. The option of
desalination was studied based on an Internet search and rejected.
“TAKaD wishes to state that the alternative of an off
river intake such as the one at the Telibong water treatment plant is the best
option – it is efficient, cost effective and easy to management – and will not destroy
the river system unlike a dam,” he said.
He added that some community representatives who were
present at the briefing were offended by a video that promotes the Kaiduan dam
by saying it would bring them benefits in terms of tourism, protection of culture and reforestation efforts.
“Ulu Papar is already a tourism destination due to its
natural environment and rich heritage.
Culture can only remain alive if there are people there to
practice and protect it. A dam will displace
communities, forcing them out of their homes,” he said.
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