17 June 2024
On Today Show
— Nicholas Mujah-Secretary General of the Sarawak Dayak Iban Organization (SADIA) – Politicians got rich 24 hours after selling PL
— Abun Sui, Senator of PKR Sarawak – Misinformation Alert: GPS should provide accurate information
Topik Pada Hari Ini
— Nicholas Mujah, Setiausaha Agung Pertubuhan Dayak Iban Sarawak (SADIA) – Ahli Politik Menjadi Kaya 24 Jam Selepas Menjual Tanah NCR
— Abun Sui, Senator PKR Sarawak – Amaran Maklumat Palsu: GPS Perlu Memberi Maklumat yang Tepat
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Special Randau
1. Tragic Boat Accident Downstream of Bakun Dam in Belaga: Two victims are still missing while three are reported safe, according to a statement from the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department's operations center. Five employees of Clinroom Sdn. Bhd., the maintenance company for the Bakun Dam, rented a boat for a leisure trip before their boat capsized and was swept away by strong currents.
2. Prime Minister Announces a 3 Sen Price Drop Per Egg Starting Today: This is an effort to return the savings from targeted subsidies to the people. Meanwhile, the government is still bearing RM7 billion in diesel subsidies.
3. BN/GPS Government Has Damaged the Environment for 50 Years: Through logging, palm oil plantations, and hydro dam projects. To save the environment, logging must stop and no more mega dams should be built, says Dennis Along.
4. Sarawak is Actively Attracting Investments from China: Particularly in the clean energy sector, public transportation system development, and hydro energy, says Sarawak Premier Johari Openg. However, local residents' observations indicate that China's involvement in the construction of Bakun and Murum hydro dams, as well as the development of aluminum smelting plants, has significantly polluted the environment and resulted in low-quality work. For your views, contact RFS at 0135515219.
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Dennis Along, Tering community from Mulu
The Cost of Development: Logging and Hydro Dams in Sarawak Under Fire
Premier Sarawak Johari Openg, last Wednesday, during his speech at the inauguration of the United States-Malaysia Clean Energy Forum 2024 at BCCK Kuching, said that the Sarawak government will use excess hydroelectric production to ensure food security in Sarawak. Sarawak has many rivers that serve as water sources for generating hydroelectric power, which also produces a large surplus of water. This surplus water will be used for the irrigation of paddy fields in Sarawak. This means Sarawak can solve two problems with one action.
The arguments presented by the Sarawak Premier aim to justify the construction of hydro dams. Before the Premier promises food security for the people of Sarawak, what is the guarantee of electricity supply to the residents of Bakun and Murum who have sacrificed their land, forests, and rivers for electricity generation? Why are there still many longhouses in Bakun and Murum that have not been supplied with electricity? Why is the excess electricity from Bakun and Murum not given to them for free?
Surplus water for the irrigation of paddy fields in Sarawak? Can the Sarawak Premier show where the commercial paddy fields in Sarawak are? What is commonly known is that there are no commercial paddy fields in Sarawak, and even if there were, there is no need to build hydro dams for their irrigation.
Concerning the Premier's argument that Sarawak is trying to solve the climate change problem by planting 35 million trees by 2025. This objective was achieved four days ago, and Sarawak achieved it a year earlier. The Premier must realize that it is indeed the government's duty to care for and protect the environment.
But does the Sarawak Premier realize that BN/GPS has been the biggest destroyer of the environment in Sarawak? The Sarawak government has consistently granted logging licenses to hundreds of logging companies for the past 50 years, and logging activities in Sarawak are still aggressive. To protect the environment, GPS should launch a zero logging campaign as suggested by PKR Baram a few years ago. By stopping logging and combined with tree-planting efforts, that is the correct way to protect the environment.
The trees planted by the Sarawak Premier will be cut down when they are mature enough to be sold. What we mean is that trees should be planted and cared for over hundreds of years for future generations - says Dennis Along.
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Jacklyn Simo, youth activist from Kamppung Nyegol Bengoh
*Bengoh Dam Impact: Villagers Turn to Eco-Tourism for Sustainable Livelihoods*
After the completion of the Bengoh Dam and its impoundment in 2016, three villages were submerged, and some communities resisted relocation and moved further up. Among these are the communities of Kampung Nyegol, Sting, and Muk Ayung. Before the Bengoh Dam was constructed, these communities had to walk around 2-4 hours to go to or sell their products at the nearest shop.Now, they have to travel by boat, which requires them to buy petrol. These communities have initiated eco-tourism programs, such as mountain hiking and waterfall tours. They also offer homestay accommodations, though most visitors prefer day trips. Many youths prefer to stay in the village because they can earn a living by planting ginger, lemongrass, turmeric, and other crops.
Jacklyn herself, during weekends, goes back to the village to help with eco-tourism activities.
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George Laeng from Uma Akeh
Solar Projects Fail to Deliver Lasting Solutions for Baram's Remote Villages
The people of Baram are determined to reject the construction of the dam, even though some parties are trying to twist the narrative that cascading dams do not harm the environment and indigenous people.
Kampung Uma Akeh in Baram has not seen any progress, such as 24-hour electricity, let alone solar projects.
Kampung Uma Akeh in Baram is close to the town of Long Lama, only 15 kilometers away, yet it still has no electricity. They are forced to use their own generators and low-capacity solar panels that they bought themselves for their use. This is unfair because, despite the people frequently requesting electricity facilities from the government, all they receive are empty promises, and this is unjust.
Why does the government's intention to supply electricity to neighboring countries continue while its own people are still in darkness in their own state? This is considered a development deceit against the people.
There are also villages that have been given solar projects costing millions of ringgit, but the results did not last long. Why can't they draw cables from Bakun Dam, Murum, or Batang Ai for the people in the interior?
The people do not want free electricity; we are willing to pay the bill because we want 24-hour electricity.