5 October 2023
Topik Pada Hari Ini
> Dennis Hang, Aktivis dari Murum – Kehidupan di Hilir: Kebimbangan Penduduk Mengenai Keselamatan Empangan Bakun
> Nicholas Mujah, Setiausaha Agung Persatuan Dayak Iban Sarawak (SADIA) – Cabaran Terhadap Hak Orang Asal di Sarawak: Seruan untuk Perubahan
> Abun Sui, Senator PKR dari Sarawak – Seruan untuk Kejelasan dalam Isu Empangan
> Haji Fuad, bekas jurutera – Infrastruktur Terancam: Seruan Mendesak untuk Keselamatan Empangan
On Today Show
> Dennis Hang, Activist from Murum – Living Downstream: Residents' Worries About Bakun Dam Safety
> Nicholas Mujah, Secretary General of the Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (SADIA) – Challenges to Indigenous Rights in Sarawak: A Call for Change
> Abun Sui, PKR Senator from Sarawak – A Call for Transparency in Dam Issues
> Haji Fuad, former engineer – Undermined Infrastructure: The Urgent Call for Dam Safety
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Special Randau
1. PMX wants all school restroom upgrade projects nationwide to be completed by early October 2023. However, a teacher from the district where he/she works, who contacted RFS, stated that in their area, none of the restrooms have been repaired. Does GPS intend to sabotage PMX, they wonder?
2. YB Chong CJ, Chairman of DAP Sarawak requests a comprehensive report from the Minister of Works regarding the collapsed Musah River bridge in the Kapit Division. Alternatively, will this case be investigated through legal channels?
3. An Awareness Forum on Land Rights, Carbon Trading, and Women's Rights will be organized by SADIA on Saturday, October 7, 2023, in Sri Aman. Everyone is invited to attend.
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Dennis Hang, Activist from Murum
*Living Downstream: Residents' Worries About Bakun Dam Safety*
Dennis Hung, a resident living downstream of the Bakun Dam, has expressed the need for authorities to immediately address the issues surrounding the Bakun Dam. He emphasized that it is not a political matter, and people should not deflect blame or accuse each other; instead, they should take swift action to resolve the problems.
He stated that their community is directly impacted by the Bakun Dam and should receive timely alerts and information from Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) and the relevant authorities. Authorities should inform them about safety Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), including evacuation procedures in the event of a dam collapse. However, even these basic warnings and training have not been provided.
They are a community living downstream of the Bakun Dam, and if a collapse were to occur, there would be only seconds or minutes to react. Where would they escape to?
Even in China, a leader in dam construction, dam collapse issues have arisen. Furthermore, concerns have persistently surrounded Malaysia's engineering projects.
Regarding the proposed construction of a dam in Baram, Dennis Hung stressed the importance of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report. He noted that the construction of the Bakun Dam and the Murum Dam proceeded without proper consideration of EIA reports, which assess the social and environmental aspects of whether a dam should be built. These reports were disregarded, as were the objections of the local communities. Additionally, the conditions promised by the government after persuading the people to support dam construction were seen as deceptive.
He advised the people of Baram to exercise caution in their approach to the dam project.
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Nicholas Mujah, Secretary General of the Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (SADIA)
*Challenges to Indigenous Rights in Sarawak: A Call for Change*
SADIA will organize forum series 2, located in Sri Aman this Saturday 7.10.2023 for one day (8am-5pm). This forum is a collaboration between the Government of Canada and SADIA. The general topic discussed is Sustainability of indigenous Peoples in Democratic System. While the speaker will touch on the Sarawak government's land policy, carbon trading and women's rights. According to Nicholas Mujah, the rights of the original people have been greatly affected during the 60 years ruled by the GPS. For example, the boundary of the landowner from one longhouse to another longhouse is determined by both parties. But under the administration of GPS. No longhouse has the right to determine the boundaries of the land. It will be determined by the land and survey department. That is only 500 hectares for one long house. So is the right to the forest. The government can issue logging, plantation and now carbon trading licenses to any party. By leaving aside the original inhabitants who took care of the forest for so long. According to Mujah- SADIA there are better proposals to start the rights of indigenous peoples in Sarawak. By attending this forum you can enter a good candidate manifesto to offer to voters in the future. All are invited to come.
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Abun Sui, PKR Senator from Sarawak
*A Call for Transparency in Dam Issues*
Abun Sui further voiced his concerns about the implications of constructing more dams. He firmly believes that while dams may bring about a certain level of development, they do not directly translate into benefits for the affected communities. On the contrary, such projects often compel communities to uproot from their ancestral lands, ultimately resulting in a lower quality of life for these residents.
In light of the grave issues surrounding the condition of the eight damaged dams, Abun Sui stressed that it is imperative for SEB (Sarawak Energy Berhad) to take full responsibility for the problems identified at the Bakun Dam. He emphasized that it is not enough for SEB to simply deny the reported issues. The Minister's statement regarding the potential dangers posed by these dams remains unaddressed, and Abun Sui urged SEB to conduct thorough and transparent inspections rather than merely issuing statements.
The gravity of this situation extends to the entire state, as local communities would have extremely limited time to evacuate if a catastrophic event were to occur at the Bakun Dam. Abun Sui emphasized the urgency of developing a comprehensive evacuation plan and finding solutions that do not negatively impact the well-being of the affected community members.
In conclusion, Abun Sui's comments shed light on the concerns regarding dam safety, the responsibilities of SEB, and the potential repercussions of further dam construction in the region. These issues highlight the need for stringent safety measures and transparent communication between authorities and local communities to ensure the well-being of residents and the preservation of their way of life.
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Haji Fuad, former engineer
*Undermined Infrastructure: The Urgent Call for Dam Safety*
The safety of dams in Malaysia has become a pressing concern following recent inspections conducted by the dam safety flying squad from 2021 to 2022. These assessments have revealed that eight dams in the country, including the Muda and Ahning Dams in Kedah, Jor and Mahang Dams in Perak, Sultan Abu Bakar Dam in Pahang, Babagon Dam in Sabah, Bakun Dam in Sarawak, and Kenyir Dam in Terengganu, are in a state of disrepair. These findings have raised alarm bells, as the compromised integrity of these dams could pose a severe threat to residents and property should a failure occur.
Former engineer Hj Fuad sheds light on the original purposes behind the construction of dams in Malaysia. Dams were primarily erected to ensure a stable domestic electricity supply and reduce the country's dependence on fuel imports, especially during turbulent global events like the Ukraine war. Furthermore, dams played a pivotal role in partially curbing gas imports. Hydropower, derived from these dams, was recognized as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly method of electricity generation, capitalizing on Malaysia's abundant rainfall. However, it's crucial to emphasize that the efficient operation of hydropower facilities hinges on meticulous data collection and analysis.
In response to these challenges, Malaysia has actively pursued diversifying the utilization of dams. One significant objective is supplying water to paddy farms to support agriculture, while another critical function is to expel saltwater from farms, simultaneously facilitating renewable energy generation. Despite these efforts, a notable obstacle remains: most dams in West Malaysia currently fall short of meeting electricity demands, necessitating imports from the Bakun Dam in Sarawak's Rejang basin. It's important to remember that dams aren't solely about energy production; they also serve as indispensable flood mitigation infrastructure.
However, the advantages of dams come with inherent disadvantages. Dams can potentially trigger flash floods when releasing excess water from upper areas, particularly in regions where land clearance for agricultural plantations has occurred. These activities lead to soil erosion and sediment accumulation, thereby posing environmental risks. For example, the Muda dam is vulnerable due to its proximity to logging activities, exacerbating these concerns. In response, it is imperative that all dam owners take proactive measures, such as installing signboards, to alert surrounding communities and the public to these inherent risks.
The discovery of eight damaged dams in Malaysia underscores the urgent need for prioritizing dam safety. Immediate attention and action are required to address these concerns and mitigate the potential threats to the well-being of the public and the environment. Dam safety must be at the forefront of Malaysia's infrastructure management agenda.