SAVE Rivers Network conference on Feb 16 to 18.

Save Sarawak’s Rivers Network

(SAVE Rivers)

&

Sarawak’s State Level Conference Against Mega-Dams

16^th to 18^th February 2012

Bakun HEP

In 1986, the Malaysian government gave approval for the construction of a major dam to be built at Bakun in Balui, the upper part of the Rejang River in Sarawak. Bakun dam is the biggest in South East Asia; it has flooded an area of 60,000 Ha, a land area as big as Singapore Island. A concrete rock filled dam was built at 205 M high.

However, even before the Bakun HEP at the Balui river is on full load operation, another dam is already under construction at Murum, on the Balui,  upstream of  Bakun dam. Murum is the first of the 12 dams which the government is building in Sarawak which is supposed to be completed by 2020.

The River & the people

The rivers have always played a major part in the livelihood of the people in Sarawak and that is why there are a lot of settlements and villages located along the rivers in the state. The construction of mega-dams will diffidently have adverse and irreversible impact on the livelihood Sarawak’s people. Since the focus of having the HEP is theoretically for powering industries and factories in the urban areas, it is not for the benefit of the people who have to sacrifice in order to make ways for it. The projects will eventually be impoverishing rather than enriching the population who are resettled to give way for the dams. Those who are worst affected by the HEP projects will be the indigenous population who are also the minorities in the state and who are unique to the state and not found anywhere else in the world.

The construction of mega-dams will unavoidably force the population to move out from their traditional land, which is a significant part of their heritage and lifeline. 

The dam will destroy a unique culture

In the normal Orang Ulu villages, even the very structures of the longhouses are traditional in nature, reflecting the social structure of the communities and thus keeping them united. With their social structure, order and solidarity is possible in each community. These social structures have been keeping the Orang Ulu in general like the Kenyah and Kayan, together from time immemorial, enabling them to face famines, wars, epidemics and natural tragedies. These structures are delicate and are now facing a lot of challenges from modern lifestyle and globalization. Mass relocation of the people will no doubt spell the end of the traditional social structure. This has been one aspect of the Malaysian scene which contributes unity and harmony through cultural uniqueness of the nation.

Approach in building the proposed mega-dams is unethical and immoral

 At the moment, not many of the indigenous communities are aware that they are affected directly or indirectly by these dams. They are not properly informed and consulted. So looking at the proposed construction of the 12 dams there is a lack of compliance to mandatory or natural civility, where humane and even basic requirements should be met. All these requirements are spelt out in the United Nation Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).The UNDRIP is meticulous in this aspect and Malaysia is a signatory of the document. Instead of being open and responsible, the proponent of the dam seems to play hide and seek with those affected. From the secretive approach they are taking, no one could be blamed for thinking that the proponents of the dam have something to hide. There are plenty of humane and viable ways to achieve development so that the end result will be a win-win situation when everybody and the nation could wins.

Formation of Save Sarawak’s Rivers Network (SAVE Rivers)

At the moment, there is no coordinated effort by the indigenous communities and civil societies to campaign against the construction of these destructive mega-dam projects. Therefore there is an urgent need to initiate a state, national and international campaign against these mega-dams. Having this in mind a group of us, concerned individuals and a few Non Governmental Organizations (NGO) have decide to start a network of those who are against the mega-dams. We had our first meeting in October 2011. The network is called the Save Sarawak’s Rivers Network (or in short: SAVE Rivers) and I am the chairman for the steering committee. Beside the steering committee we aim at extending the network further to include more of those who can support the cause, especially from those who are directly affected.

The objectives of the network are:

(1)    Campaigning against the construction of mega-dams

(2)    Gathering all affected communities and concerned individuals or NGOs to work together as a team

(3)    Building up network for easy communication, gathering and relaying of information

(4)    Sharing or disseminating information concerning the destructive nature or adverse effects of mega-dams

(5)    Supporting activities or event opposing the construction of mega-dams

Last year we started with the campaign from a booth set up in Marudi during the Baram Regatta. This was closely followed with a dinner organize in Miri for fellowship and to create awareness.

Our first project this year is a state wide conference on the impact of mega-dams which will be held as follows:

(1)    Registration at Telang Usan Hotel Miri and opening session for participants: 5 pm on 16^th February 

(2)    It will begin with a sharing session after dinner at 7.00 pm on 16^th February (You will be informed of the venue)

(3)    The conference will be full day on Friday 17^th to 18^th February. (You will be informed of the venue)

(4)    Actual venue for the conference proper will be made known to the participants at the registration desk

(5)    Delegates at the conference will be from various places in Sarawak, especially from the proposed dams localities

(6)    There are 8 speakers who will be presenting papers at the conference. All of them are knowledgably individuals, professionals, University professors, environmentalists, human right groups including a speaker from Suhakam, the government instituted, Malaysian Human Right Organization.

At the conference we expect to come up with resolutions and fine tune our approach. The highlight of the conference is the resolution which will spell the course of action to be initiated for stopping the construction of mega-dams.

To date, the Conference Secretariat has started receiving registrations via phone calls and the email from various places in Sarawak. From these respond we are confident to draw interest from the people affected. As we have limited resources and room, the conference will be on “first come first served” basis. Those who need further information can contact me, Peter Kallang on my hand phone,– 013 833 1104 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              013 833 1104      end_of_the_skype_highlighting or contact  Mr. Mark Bujang on 014 877 6685 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              014 877 6685      end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

Best Regards,

Peter Kallang

Chairman of SAVE Rivers

Chairman of Persatuan Kenyah Miri (PKM)

Chairman of Orang Ulu National Association (OUNA  - Miri)

Hand Phone: 013 833 1104 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              013 833 1104      end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Message to Taib - dont be arrogant and a big bully

The description of sheer arrogant is insuffiicient to brand Taib Mahmud in his treatment of Peter Chin, the duly elected president of the Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP). Is Taib a compulsive liar? Sure he is.
First, he unashamedly stated that he was too old so he could not attend SUPP's Chinese New Year Open House in Kuching. But three days later, he went all the way to Sibu to attend Wong Soon Koh's open house. He got the time to visit Wong, but has no time to visit SUPP's open house. Come on lah, Taib, stop telling us a pack of lies. It was SUPP who saved you and PBB in the 1987 constitutional crisis when your uncle tried to topple you from power. Didnt you remember that? I am sure that you dont have short memories.Snubbing Chin and SUPP is how you repay SUPP's political assistance to you, otherwise, you will not be the chief minister anymore.
At your press conference in Miri last week, you said you did not want to interfere in the internal affairs of SUPP. Right? Come on lah Taib, who is believing you? If that was so, why were you snubbing Chin by refusing to talk to him, even to say "hello" at the ACCCIS dinner? Why did you did not mention his name in your salutation? What has Chin done to you that you treat him like he didnt exist? Guests at the dinner could clearly see that you have something against him. Why dont you just say it out, no need to hide anything?
Was it about Chin becoming the president of SUPP, instead of your chosen one - WSK? It appears that you are interfering in SUPP's internal affair by refusing to acknowledge Chin as the duly elected president of SUPP. The SUPP members were once looking at you as the leader that they could trust, but now I am not sure if they still do. In case you have forgotten, SUPP lost the urban seats in the last state election because the majority of Chinese voters are no longer trusting you.
So dont try to be arrogant. Today, SUPP is in trouble and it needs help. As professional wrestler John Cena's famous slogan says "Rise Above Hate", so you need to rise above hate in the treatment of Chin just because Chin made your man - WSK - tapped.
Today, it is SUPP in trouble, but tomorrow, it could be PBB's turn. Dont forget that.

by Lim How Pim. Posted on February 12, 2012, Sunday

KUCHING: When Chief Minister Pehin Sri Taib Mahmud and Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui appeared together at a public function for the first time since Chin was controversially elected president of SUPP last December, the atmosphere was frosty.
Taib offered a perfunctory hand shake to Chin without exchanging any words when they met at the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sarawak’s (ACCCIS) Chinese New Year gathering on Friday night.
Even more telling was the omission by Taib of Chin, who is the Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water, in his salutation before his speech at the function.
Both of them were not seen communicating, with ACCCIS president Datuk Wee Kok Tiong seated in between them during the dinner.
Chin seemed to be the one who was in a more reconciliatory mood as he joined the guests and host in standing up when he (Taib) returned to his seat after delivering his speech.
Chin also reached out again to shake hands with Taib, who responded coolly.
Chin refused to comment when reporters asked him about Taib’s apparent snub in public.

Sarawak govt has failed to abide by Court of Appeal's ruling on NCR land, says Baru Bian

I refer to two articles in the Borneo Post dated 8 February 2012; the first headed ‘Detractors out to delay issuance of land titles’ and the second ‘Understand, accept land acquisitions’.

I notice that there has been regular coverage in the press of BN politicians officiating at ‘presentation ceremonies’, with photographs of landowners rejoicing at the payments received for their lands compulsorily acquired or handing over of titles of lands surveyed. The message is that the government is caring and compassionate towards the people, compensating them for taking away their lands, or issuing titles to NCR lands.

All that is well and good but as long as the BN politicians continue to harp on land surveys, I will continue to ask the questions to which I have not received any satisfactory answers: What is the state government’s understanding of the areas that constitute NCR land? Does the government accept the Court of Appeal and Federal Court’s definition, which includes Pemakai menoa (communal/territorial domain) and Pulau galau (reserved forest or land) as NCR land?

In every NCR land case I bring to court, the submission by the State Attorney General is that NCR land is restricted to temuda established before 1958. This shows either that the State AG’s office is ignorant of the Court’s ruling, or that the State has totally no regard for the authority or the supremacy of the highest courts of the land.

I again call on the Chief Minister, the Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment, or the Special Functions Minister to declare publicly that the State recognizes that Pemakai menoa and Pulau galau are part and parcel of NCR land, as defined by the Court.

The Special Functions Minister was quoted as saying that there are some people telling landowners to oppose the NCR new initiative. I assure the Special Functions Minister that PKR and I do not oppose the NCR new initiative. In fact, we would welcome any initiative to document and ensure the security of our people’s NCR lands. The only stumbling block is the inability of the state to assure us of that there is a meeting of the minds with regard to the meaning of NCR, and that has resulted in people being wary of the surveying exercise by the Land and Survey department. In fact, the explanation made by the Land and Survey department to the landowners is the same as that of the state AG, that NCR is restricted to temuda established before 1958. This is wrong and unacceptable. Our native landowners must have the assurance that the state will adhere to the definition of NCR as pronounced by the Courts. Only then can we lend our full support to the NCR new initiative.

Baru Bian

State Assemblyman

N 70 Ba’ Kelalan/

Chairman

PKR Sarawak

Is the BN govt that really caring? asks Baru Bian

In recent days we have been assailed by newspaper and television reports on the BR1M aid, whether they be of BN politicians giving out the money to successful applicants, people pushing and jostling to check their applications and to collect their money, successful applicants praising and glorifying the ‘caring’ BN government, BN politicians insisting that the BR1M is a ‘sincere approach’ by the ‘caring’ BN government concerned about the welfare of the people and not a vote-buying tactic, and BN politicians castigating opposition members for politicising the issue.

It does not take much for the ordinary person in the street to think logically about this. In the recent months, schoolchildren were given RM100 each and college and university students RM200 in aid before the BR1M was given. Why is it that these forms of ‘caring’ monetary aid are only given during the election year and not during non-election years? Can we say that during those non-election years, the government was uncaring about the people? It is obvious to even the least skeptical of persons that this is an election ploy by the BN government no matter how vehement and incessant the denial by their spokespersons.  As commented by some, this is a blatant ‘Beli Rakyat 1M’ vote–buying exercise.

Contrary to what the BN politicians are saying, it is not the opposition that has been politicising the BR1M but the BN politicians themselves who are guilty of it by taking advantage of the distribution of the money (for the BR1M as well as the students’ aid) to orchestrate photo-opportunities and feel-good press conferences. The RM2.6bil to fund this fishing expedition comes from all taxpayers, not from BN politicians. If this is not a vote-buying exercise, all state assemblymen and members of parliament, regardless of their political affiliations, should be given the chance to distribute the aid in their constituencies.

It was revealed in the last Sarawak DUN sitting that there are 55,975 poor households in the state, of which almost half are categorized as hardcore poor families earning less than RM520 a month. While they and the lower income earning households certainly welcome the RM500 aid as instant relief, a truly caring government would have implemented policies and programmes years ago to help these people improve themselves and to promote their socio-economic development. What will the one-off RM500 quick-fix band-aid scheme achieve for them once it is spent? The poor will still be languishing in poverty, forgotten until the next election looms and Sarawak’s population will remain among the poorest in the country. That the government of the day (and indeed of the past 50 years) has failed the country and the people is clear from the sheer numbers of people who have been scrambling for the money since the scheme was announced. Why are there so many people eligible for the aid? That alone is proof that the welfare of the ordinary citizen is of no consequence to the government until election year rolls along. The RM500 payment offers no expiation for the neglect of the government over the years.

Hence, I suggest that the BN politicians should stop politicising the issue and in the process causing the BN government embarrassment over its poor track record. Of course the rakyat should take the money from the taxpayers but I urge them to vote wisely in the coming elections. The PR has proven itself in the states it governs in West Malaysia. By voting for us, you will be voting for a brighter future for yourselves and your children. The PR is committed to eradicating poverty, corruption and cronyism and to providing good educational resources, capable and efficient institutions, stability and prosperity.  Our policies as stated in the Buku Jingga and our State PR manifesto emphasize good governance premised on proven international principles of Competency, Accountability and Transparency (CAT). We will prioritise health care and educational facilities to enrich human capabilities and opportunities. We will provide basic facilities to the people and improve the infrastructure of the state. We will ensure fair distribution of the state’s wealth and resources among the people. Our focus will be on steadily improving the lives and livelihood of the rakyat. In other words, a Pakatan Rakyat government will make it our business to ensure that the people’s welfare is paramount so that they will never need to be subjected to the indignity of queuing for long hours in the hot sun and to pushing and jostling in large crowds just to receive some inducement money from a panicked government on the eve of elections, and thereby be unwittingly exploited as election propaganda. Give the PR coalition as chance - you have nothing to lose but everything to gain.

IBRAHIM ALI AND THE WHITE PACKET

Much has been said about the insensitivity of Ibrahim Ali in distributing white packets to senior citizens at Perkasa’s Chinese New Year open house. The revulsion and anger felt by the Chinese community is heightened by the fact that the recipients of the white packets are in their senior years and hence feeling more vulnerable than other segments of the population. Many of them are doubtless now plagued by feelings of unease and worry. The arrogance of Ibrahim Ali in brushing off the incident as an innocent act stemming from his ignorance of Chinese custom and practice shows his lack of respect for the Chinese community. This abhorrent behavior displayed by a Member of Parliament brings disgrace and shame to his office. Pakatan Rakyat Sarawak calls for Ibrahim Ali to show some semblance of human decency by apologising to the Chinese community for his crass actions. We are thankful everyday that Sarawakians value the harmony that exists amongst ourselves, and the mutual respect for each other’s religion and culture.  It is our fervent hope that this will remain the case as we approach our Jubilee year and continue well beyond that.

Baru Bian

Chairman

PKR Sarawak/

State Assemblyman

N70 Ba’ Kelalan

Baru Bian branded Taib Mahmud as a total failure

Baru: Last year, Taib said Sarawak would be richest state by 2020, but now he said Sarawak would be richest state by 2030. Has he moved the goalposts by another 10 years?

Today’s headlines in the Sarawak Tribune proclaimed the latest fanciful edict from Abdul Taib Mahmud: Sarawak will be the ‘Richest State by 2030’. This was the subject of his speech at the Federation of Kuching and Samarahan Divisions Chinese Associations’ 2012 Chinese New Year Gathering and 33^rd anniversary dinner.

The initial thought that springs to mind is this: Has he become so desperately short of ideas that he is recycling his speeches from 1981 when he became the Chief Minister of Sarawak? This is the sort of promise a fresh-faced dewey-eyed leader would make upon assuming office, when he is full of vigour and inspiration, and driven by visions of development and progress for his state and people. That Taib Mahmud should still be spouting his empty promises 31 years after taking office is proof that he has been and is a failure as leader of the State. Let him answer these simple questions: Why is it that you have failed to achieve this status for Sarawak in the 31 years you have been Chief Minister? What exactly have you and your ministers been doing all these years aside from enriching yourselves and your families? Why should we give you and BN another 18 years when you have failed us so badly for the last 31 years? How pathetic and how offensive to us that you should have the gall to try to keep on deceiving the people whom you have let down so abysmally.

In his speech Taib called on the people to look at the success rather than the failure in the past. What success is he referring to? The most significant statistic and one that speaks volumes about Taib’s reign is this: Sarawak has the dubious distinction, nay, the humiliation and ignominy of being the state richest in natural resources but at the same time, one of the poorest states in the country. The dubious distinction for Sarawak is in having a Chief Minister who is reputed to be wealthier than the Queen of England. The shocking revelations made over the past year about the Taib regime’s wealth, businesses and properties in 25 countries around the world is an indictment of the grand corruption that has blighted this once pristine land of noble people.

As I recall, in April last year Taib made the same promise of Sarawak becoming the richest State in Malaysia when unveiling the State BN electoral manifesto, except that last year, the target year was 2020. Why has the goalpost been moved forward 10 years in the space of less than a year? Does Taib actually keep track of the poppycock he feeds to the masses? Does he actually have a plan in place or is he making up stories in his old age?

In his speech at the dinner, Taib also said that every community in the spirit of give and take can find a place in our struggle to build a better future. Many Sarawakians can attest that Taib and his family and cronies are exceptionally accomplished in the practice of  ‘taking’, amassing obscene amounts of wealth from land-grabs and awarding contracts to family-controlled companies. They have effectively robbed the people of their lands and livelihood so that the once-proud natives are reduced to struggling with poverty and hardship.

Having expressed my incredulity at his gall and pomposity, I have to agree however, with one point made by Taib Mahmud. He is absolutely spot-on in saying that Sarawak will be the richest state in Malaysia by 2030 (or even 2020) because the state has better leaders coming up in future. What he omitted to say, was that these leaders are from the Pakatan Rakyat coalition. Our leaders are people oriented, and not self-serving opportunists like many of the current BN politicians. Our leaders are motivated by altruism and not by greed. Our leaders are committed to undoing the damage done by Taib Mahmud and his ilk. Our leaders are determined to make up for years of neglect and abuse of the natives by the government. Our leaders have policies to develop and prosper the people and state of Sarawak. I fully support the call of Taib Mahmud to help these leaders so that they can come up and take the challenges to build our country together. A Pakatan Rakyat government will succeed where the BN government has failed!

As for Taib Mahmud, we have this to say to him: There is a way to move the goalpost back to 2020 for Sarawak to become the richest state - give back the wealth you and your family have been accused of plundering from the state and people and resign from your office now. Sarawakians have woken up to the bitter truth of your misrule. We have had enough.

Baru Bian

Chairman

PKR Sarawak/

State Assemblyman

N70 Ba’ Kelalan