15 January 2024
On Today Show
— Celine Lim, Managing Director of Save Rivers – Sarawak Premier Abang Jo Silent as Residents Against Unwanted Dam Projects In Sarawak
— Kulleh Selong, Residents of Long Bangan Belaga and Micheal Jok, Secretary General of SCRIPS – Belaga Voices: Rejecting Dam Construction Amidst Lessons from Bakun and Murum
— Nunggang from Ulu Baram – Beyond the Timber Road: Logging Companies' Neglect, GPS’s irresponsibility and Community Action
— Abdul Aziz Ismail, Selangor Anti Human Trafficking Council – The Plight of Unemployed Migrants: Seeking Equitable Solutions
Topik Pada Hari Ini
— Celine Lim, Pengarah Urusan Save Rivers – Abang Jo, Ketua Menteri Sarawak, Diam Apabila Penduduk Menentang Projek Empangan yang Tidak Diingini di Sarawak
— Kulleh Selong, Penduduk Long Bangan Belaga dan Micheal Jok, Setiausaha Agung SCRIPS – Suara Belaga: Menolak Pembinaan Empangan dalam Pengajaran dari Bakun dan Murum
— Nunggang dari Ulu Baram – Lebih Daripada Jalan Balak: Pengabaian Syarikat Pembalakan, Ketidakbertanggungjawaban GPS, dan Tindakan Komuniti
— Abdul Aziz Ismail, Majlis anti penyeludupan manusia Selangor – Cabaran Pekerja Migran: Mencari Penyelesaian yang Adil
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*Special Highlight*
1. Sarawak Premier Abang Johari lied; residents in Tutoh, Gaat, and Belaga never gave approval for dam construction.
2. BERSIH 2.0 Chairman, Ambiga, expresses disappointment over slow and inadequate reforms promised by PMX. Acts of sedition and communication and multimedia acts are still enforced.
3. Attorney General Ahmad Terriruddin states that it is not the prosecution's duty to provide reasons for dropping charges. Zaid Malik, Executive Director of Lawyer for Liberty, disputes the Attorney General's statement. If the AG does not provide reasons for dropping cases, it implies a lack of accountability to the public.
4. Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, however, asserts that the national judiciary unfairly criticized when prosecutors withdraw criminal charges.
5. Former Law Minister Zaid Ibrahim disagrees with the Permanent Parliament Act.
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Celine Lim, Managing Director of Save Rivers
*Sarawak Premier Abang Jo Silent as Residents Against Unwanted Dam Projects In Sarawak*
Today Save Rivers held a meeting with residents from Tutoh, Apoh and Mulu areas. Residents in this area will be affected if the government's plan to build a cascading dam in Tutoh is implemented. They expressed their dismay at Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg's statement, who claimed that the residents of the Tutoh, Gaat and Belaga river areas agreed for a mega hydro dam to be built in their area. They questioned who met and agreed to the proposal?
As a community that lives in villages and longhouses, there has not been any discussion with them regarding the proposal to build a hydro dam in Tutoh. They sent a letter to the Premier in November 2023 asking the question and stating their objection. But until now the Premier of Sarawak has not responded to our letter.
According to Celine Lim, residents from Mulu, Tutoh and Apoh have launched a protest petition since last September 2023 and there have been over 500 signatures of residents protesting the GPS government's plan to build a hydro dam.
She said that the communities know the environmental damage and social impact on them if dams are built. They are protesting and want the construction of the dam in their place to be cancelled. They do not believe building dams is an effective measure to control the crocodile population.
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Kulleh Selong, Residents of Long Bangan Belaga and Micheal Jok, Secretary General of SCRIPS
*Belaga Voices: Rejecting Dam Construction Amidst Lessons from Bakun and Murum*
Kulleh responded to Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg's statement which stated that he had received approval from the community in 3 locations, namely Sungai Belaga, Tutoh and Gaat, who have agreed to have a dam built in their area.
Kulleh was surprised by the Sarawak Premier's statement and insisted that This is the first time he heard such a suggestion. They from the village have never discussed the proposal to build a dam. They all disagree if a dam is built in their area. Kulleh said that they have seen what happened in Bakun and Murum.
According to Michael Jok, they at Belaga have over 20 years of experience dealing with dam issues. Their question to Premier and GPS, what are the real benefits of dam construction? Residents in Bakun and Murum faced severe hardship when the dam was built in their area.
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Nunggang from Ulu Baram
*Beyond the Timber Road: Logging Companies' Neglect, GPS’s irresponsibility and Community Action*
Mr. Nunggang's statement also highlighted the irresponsibility of logging companies. He emphasized that after these logging companies withdraw, it is essential for the government to not only focus on road repair but also address the environmental damages caused by the irresponsible logging practices. The logging companies, in their pursuit of profit, often engage in unsustainable logging, deforestation, and environmental degradation, leaving the local communities to deal with the aftermath.
Mr. Nunggang expressed concern about the lack of accountability on the part of these logging companies, urging the government to hold them responsible for the ecological impact on the forests. He emphasized that the government should not only revoke permits for such irresponsible companies but also enact stricter regulations to prevent further environmental harm. The toll imposed by the LG Bemang community is seen as a measure to compensate for the neglect and damage caused by these logging activities.
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Abdul Aziz Ismail, Selangor Anti Human Trafficking Council
*The Plight of Unemployed Migrants: Seeking Equitable Solutions*
A follow-up operation to crackdown on illegal immigrants will be carried out by the Department of Internal Security and Public Order (KDNKA) of Bukit Aman. The police, during enforcement actions, discovered that some individuals did not possess proper documentation, indicating a possible involvement in human trafficking or being deceived into the situation.
When questioned about the treatment of these illegal immigrants, Azizi, who has long been advocating for the rights of undocumented foreign workers, expressed that the ongoing crackdown is a standard procedure in every legalization program. The intensified enforcement aims to prevent any potential misconduct by the government that brings in foreign workers without ensuring ready employment.
Azizi highlighted a concerning trend where, in the past sixty months alone, 4773 Bangladeshi migrant workers entered the country, with 90 percent arriving without secured employment. These individuals often face unfair treatment, and the law, while comprehensive, lacks effective enforcement practices by the statutory bodies.
Azizi emphasized the importance of a balanced approach that not only addresses illegal immigration but also ensures the fair treatment of foreign workers brought into the country. The current enforcement actions are seen as a crucial step to rectify past shortcomings and uphold the principles of a just and lawful system.