30 April 2024
On Today Show
— Gereng Jadum, Penan in the Metalun-Murum Resettlement Area – Sarawak's Mega Dam Plans: Development or Displacement?
— Ellen from Kampung Traditional Tukau Jaya – Injustice in Usahaya: communities Fight Against Parabena's Pressure
— Thomas Jalong, activist from Ulu Baram – Elevating Sarawak's Status: A Call for Meaningful Change Beyond Just a Name
Topik Pada Hari Ini
- Gereng Jadum, Penan di Kawasan Penempatan semula Metalun-Murum - Pelan Empangan Mega Sarawak: Pembangunan atau Pemindahan?- Ellen dari Kampung Tradisi Tukau Jaya - Ketidakadilan di Usahaya: Komuniti Melawan Tekanan Parabena
- Thomas Jalong, aktivis dari Ulu Baram - Menaikkan Status Sarawak: Seruan untuk Perubahan Bermakna Lebih Daripada Sekadar Nama
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*Special Randau*
1. Sarawak Premier Johari Openg and GPS are willing to promise anything to gain people's support for building dams. Gereng Jadum recalls the sweet promises of the Sarawak government when lobbying to build the Murum dam. Supposedly, we would progress and there would be plenty of job opportunities. Now our lives are harder than before - said Gereng Jadum.
2. The Malaysian Bar has filed a legal challenge to overturn the pardon board's decision to reduce the sentence and fines imposed on Najib Razak. The application for dismissal was brought by the law firm Amir & Rajpal Ghai on behalf of the said body.
3. The Kuala Lumpur High Court has set Thursday for hearing Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz's application to intervene in the house arrest case of Najib Razak.
4. Jho Low's Bugatti car is among the assets seized by the MACC in Germany.
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Gereng Jadum, Penan in the Metalun-Murum Resettlement Area
*Sarawak's Mega Dam Plans: Development or Displacement?*
On April 28, Sarawak Premier Abang Johari spoke at the World Water Day celebration with the theme "water for peace." Johari reiterated that the state government will build 3 more dams in Gaat, Belaga, and Tutoh. These mega dams will be built using the latest technology that does not flood NCR land, does not affect the local communities, and does not disrupt their way of life. According to Johari, the electricity generated will boost the economy and improve the living standards of the people. Johari also mentioned that many NGOs do not understand the concept of mega dams.
However, Gereng Jadum in the Metalun-Murum Resettlement Area, said that the communities' lives were severely affected when the Murum dam was built. They were relocated to Tegulang and Metalun settlements. Before the dam was built, the government made various promises of development. But after the dam was built, none of the promises were fulfilled. Until now, they have to source their own drinking water every day.
Gereng said that they built a small dam on a hill and connected pipes to their homes. Promises of agricultural development were made, but they were not given agricultural land lots. Until now, all of them relocated to Tegulang and Metalun are still living in poverty. How can Johari dare to say that dams can advance the economy of the people? We already know that the government will only promise sweet things. But when the dam is built, that's when we see the long-lasting negative effects - said Gereng Jadum.
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Ellen from Kampung Traditional Tukau Jaya
*Injustice in Usahaya: communities Fight Against Parabena's Pressure*
Today, Ellen together with 8 community members from Traditional Village Usahaya Tukau Miri, listened to their compensation demands from Parabena, as Parabena is increasingly pressing for villagers to vacate the Traditional Village Tukau Jaya area so that the Parabena project can begin immediately.
Ellen said that the communities were not represented by any lawyers and only heard the decision from the magistrate. The court's decision did not favor the residents of Traditional Village Usahaya, but what Parabena promised to the villagers was a relocation scheme.
The issue is that the relocation promised by Parabena is unknown in terms of location and when the site will be provided. Ellen is very disappointed with the government's actions, especially the Land and Survey Department, for not addressing the people's problems.
According to Ellen, why did the Land and Survey Department approve the village area in the first place if it had been PL-ed to Parabena? Why should the rights of the indigenous people, especially the Sarawak GPS government, be oppressed? For a long time, Ellen has fully supported GPS, but after seeing GPS's oppression, no more votes for GPS. It is truly angry and disappointed if their compensation demands are not met.
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Thomas Jalong, activist from Ulu Baram
*Elevating Sarawak's Status: A Call for Meaningful Change Beyond Just a Name*
Last week, the Sarawak Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture suggested renaming the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly to the Sarawak Legislative Assembly, stating that the change reflects the region's status and is in line with the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). The renaming aims to emphasize Sarawak's status as an equal partner in the federation of Malaysia.
Regarding the concept of "region," Sarawakian activists believe that while an elevation in status is good, if it is only a matter of a name change, it is meaningless. Thomas Jalong stated that the GPS state government has been emphasizing Sarawak's flourishing development, but the reality is unbalanced development, especially in the interior where basic infrastructure such as roads, water, electricity, and communication are still lacking, with no development in the interior.
He expressed that GPS should not just talk but also focus on the development of the interior. The lack of basic infrastructure, along with issues related to land rights, has made it impossible for the interior to receive the same development opportunities as urban areas. Therefore, even if it is upgraded to a region, it would be meaningless.