3 May 2024
On Today Show
— Anthony Lerang Usang, Headman of Kenyah Badeng Long Urun Belaga – The Uninvited Headman: Silenced Opposition to the Dam
— Gebril (Punan Bah), Stephen (Long Selungo, Baram), George (Uma Akeh), and Agnes (Lawas) – TYT's Sarawak Tour: People Urge Ground Experience, Not Helicopter
— Simon Ayan from Kampung Long Belok – Waiting for Reconstruction: Kampung Long Belok's Unfinished Homes
Topik Pada Hari Ini
- Anthony Lerang Usang, Ketua Kampung Kenyah Badeng Long Urun Belaga - Ketua Kampunng Tidak Dijemput: Penentangan Terdiam terhadap Empangan
- Gebril (Punan Bah), Stephen (Long Selungo, Baram), George (Uma Akeh), dan Agnes (Lawas) - Lawatan TYT Sarawak: Rakyat Desak Pengalaman Darat, Bukan Helikopter
- Simon Ayan dari Kampung Long Belok - Menunggu Pembinaan Semula: Rumah Belum Selesai di Kampung Long Belok
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*Special Randau*
1. The village chiefs of the Belaga district are appealing to the Sarawak government to build a road network to facilitate the movement of the population. The DayakDaily newspaper reported that residents of Belaga are facing increasing difficulties traveling to Kapit as the express boat service operating on that route had to stop due to insufficient passengers and lack of profitability. However, residents living in Belaga find it difficult to travel out as there is no proper road network. Three village chiefs are appealing for Belaga to be upgraded to the 13th division so that more allocations can be made. The Secretary of PRS Belaga, Henry Tey, questioned why Belaga is not given more allocations despite two mega dams being built in Belaga (Bakun and Murum). This proves that more dams are being built. Thus, one area is becoming more backward, even though the state government is receiving surplus revenue.
2. The construction of dams will bring progress - is a lie. Village Head Anthony Lerang from Long Urun cited that the residents of the Bakun resettlement Sungai Asap and the residents of the Murum resettlement in Tegulang and Metalun are experiencing increasingly difficult living conditions when dams are built in their areas. If a dam were to be built in my area in the Belaga River - I would protest, said Anthony Lerang.
3. Media freedom - Malaysia's position has deteriorated significantly. Malaysia is now ranked 107th in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index, managed by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Malaysia has fallen 34 places from last year. According to RSF, Malaysia's position has plummeted due to the government's actions to restrict news websites that criticize the government.
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Anthony Lerang Usang, Headman of Kenyah Badeng Long Urun Belaga
*The Uninvited Headman: Silenced Opposition to the Dam*
Anthony Lerang Usang, the headman of Kenyah Badeng Long Urun in Belaga, feels angry for not being invited to attend the village head meeting held on April 19, 2024. The meeting was organized to gather the views of the village heads regarding the government's proposal to build a dam on the Belaga River.
The Urun River, a tributary of the Belaga River, flows through the upper division. Lerang expressed his anger and sadness for not receiving an invitation. He, along with the residents of Long Urun, has witnessed the hardships faced by the residents of the Bakun and Murum resettlement areas. They strongly oppose the construction of a dam on the Belaga River. Lerang believes that the main issue that will arise is disputes over land.
Long Urun is currently facing a land problem, as their land is being encroached upon not only by oil palm plantation companies but also by the residents of Sungai Asap (Bakun resettlement) who want to cultivate rice and gardens. Lerang criticizes the government for not providing enough land to the residents of Sungai Asap. He questions why the residents of Bakun and Murum are facing increasing difficulties despite the presence of a dam in their area.
As the village head, Lerang intends to protest if the government proceeds with the dam construction. Despite the construction of the Bakun mega dam in Belaga, village chiefs in Belaga continue to complain about the inadequate roads, bridges, and land transport connections. Lerang highlighted an article in the Dayak Daily newspaper where village chiefs from Belaga expressed dissatisfaction with the discontinuation of the Belaga-Kapit express boat service, which has forced them to travel long distances by road. The road from Belaga to Kapit remains unbuilt, and the Belaga-Bakun road is only one lane. Lerang believes that these infrastructural shortcomings demonstrate that the dam does not benefit the local economy as promised by the Premier of Sarawak. He asserts that the idea that the dam will bring progress is a lie. Lerang warns that the dam will only lead to more land conflicts and disputes.
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Gebril (Punan Bah), Stephen (Long Selungo, Baram), George (Uma Akeh), and Agnes (Lawas)
*TYT's Sarawak Tour: People Urge Ground Experience, Not Helicopter*
Media reports that the TYT Wan Junaidi aims to strengthen ties with the people of Sarawak by embarking on a statewide tour, with a particular focus on the interior regions. Abdullah Saidol, the Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department, stated that Wan Junaidi seeks to showcase the unique unity among Sarawak's multiracial society during this tour.
RFS reached out to individuals from different areas to share their views on this visit plan. Gebril (Punan Bah), Stephen (Long Selungo, Baram), George (Uma Akeh), and Agnes (Lawas) are among those who responded.
The people from the interior are looking forward to the Governor's tour across Sarawak. They believe that while it's good for the Governor to meet people along the Pan Borneo Highway, it's equally important for him to visit the interior to understand the people's issues firsthand. They suggest that if the Governor plans to travel to the interior, he should use the roads provided by the government over the past 60 years instead of air routes (helicopters). They strongly emphasize the need for the Governor to witness the hardships faced by the poor and marginalized communities in person.
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Simon Ayan from Kampung Long Belok
*Waiting for Reconstruction: Kampung Long Belok's Unfinished Homes*
Ayan from Kampung Long Belok commented that donations or aid for the fire victims came from various sources including the Catholic Welfare Services Miri, government agencies, surrounding villages such as Long Sayan, Sungai Yang, Pewaris Baram, as well as some from Sibu and Bintulu, and Penan communities. The donations consisted of food, clothing, some cash, gas cylinders, etc., which meant a lot to the victims.
The fire broke out from a solar system around 3:30 am. It is known that currently no government agency has provided any building materials for them to carry out repairs. Additionally, they also requested to find out the cause of the fire, specifically where in the solar system the problem occurred, and to conduct inspections in other villages to prevent similar incidents from occurring.