7 June 2024
On Today Show
— Dennis Along, Resident of Long Terawan, Mulu, Sarawak – Cascading Concerns: The Impact of Dam Projects on Rural Communities
— Shakila of Borneo Komrad – Struggle for Survival: Bajau Laut Communities in Crisis
— Jeffry Ngui, chairman of MUDA Sarawak – Silenced Voices: Rural Neglect in Sarawak Media
— Madam Agnes from Selangau – Left Behind: The Rural Neglect under GPS Leadership
Topik Pada Hari Ini
— Dennis Along, Penduduk Long Terawan, Mulu, Sarawak – Kebimbangan Berturut-turut: Kesan Projek Empangan ke atas Komuniti Luar Bandar
— Shakila dari Borneo Komrad – Perjuangan untuk Bertahan: Komuniti Bajau Laut dalam Krisis
— Jeffry Ngui, pengerusi MUDA Sarawak – Suara-suara yang Terpinggir: Pengabaian Luar Bandar dalam Media Sarawak
— Puan Agnes dari Selangau – Ditinggalkan: Pengabaian Luar Bandar di bawah Kepimpinan GPS
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*Special Randau*
1. Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat, Tan Sri Johari Abdul, has not yet received official notice regarding the vacancies involving 6 BERSATU Members of Parliament whose memberships were recently revoked. "As long as I haven't received official notice, I consider it just noise," he said. The BERSATU Secretary-General previously stated that they would send a notice to Parliament to inform about the vacant seats of their 6 Members of Parliament who were expelled for supporting PMX.
2. The passport of the wife of the former Finance Minister, Daim Zainuddin, Naimah Abdul Khalid, has been temporarily released by the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court. This is to allow Naimah to attend the Art Exhibition in Basel, Switzerland, as well as a work meeting in Singapore. The criminal court previously held Naimah's passport as part of the RM250,000 bail conditions after she was charged in court for failing to disclose her assets.
3. Premier Sarawak's funny and crazy idea to produce electricity from hydrogen using electrolyser machines for rural residents to replace diesel. Dennis Along stated, "Why not use the excess energy generated from the Bakun Dam?" Currently, GPS is actively using village heads and community leaders to campaign for the construction of a dam in Tutoh, Sarawak.
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Dennis Along, Resident of Long Terawan, Mulu, Sarawak
*Cascading Concerns: The Impact of Dam Projects on Rural Communities*
The rural/remote area electricity supply project using hydrogen power is another extraordinary imagination of Premier Sarawak Johari Openg, said political and environmental activist Dennis Along. Premier Sarawak Johari Openg mentioned that Sarawak wants to explore mobile hydrogen as a replacement for diesel for electricity supply in remote areas. He said this while inaugurating the Sarawak Electrolyser Assembly and Distribution Facility (SEA-DF) in Demak Laut. SEA-DF is the first equipment of its kind in ASEAN capable of converting water molecules into hydrogen. It is the result of a collaboration between SEDC Energy and PETRONAS subsidiary Lestari H2Gaas.
According to Dennis, "Currently, my village, Long Terawan, and other rural villages in Sarawak use the Sarawak Rural Electrification Scheme (SARES). It supplies 3000 watts of electricity per day per family, which is only enough to light three bulbs. Other electrical appliances cannot be used. I wonder why the excess energy from Bakun is not sent to us in rural areas. Also, how much will the electrolyser cost? We, the poor rural residents, cannot afford it if it is expensive. Abang Johari seems to be talking without thinking."
The campaign to build a cascading dam in Baram continues, said Dennis. This time, GPS is using community and village leaders to persuade the villagers. The idea of a cascading dam was opposed by 12 associations on May 23, 2024. For us in Long Terawan, we will be greatly affected because our village is downstream of the Tutoh River. We will be at risk and face polluted river water.
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Shakila of Borneo Komrad
*Struggle for Survival: Bajau Laut Communities in Crisis*
Shakila of Borneo Komrad shared with RFS that the issue may appear to be a local one since it occurred in Semporna, but it is, in fact, a humanitarian crisis. The operation lasted for three days, from June 4th until yesterday, during which houses were dismantled and burnt down, residents were chased out, and they have nowhere to stay. The official notice issued by Sabah Parks stated that these Bajau Laut communities were residing on land belonging to others. However, the reality is that these communities have been living in these areas long before Sabah Parks were gazetted, or even before the formation of Malaysia in 1963. They initially lived on boats and later built houses using wood from the jungle and zinc purchased from small towns, settling permanently in the middle of the sea. They were not informed or aware that these areas belonged to anyone. Being illiterate, they have no land titles or legal documents. The notice, dated May 2nd, was delivered to the communities, but within that short period, they were not able to prepare themselves. They were in a state of panic and unable to take any action. At the same time, the authorities did not compensate them or provide any alternative. Such situations are usually seen in other countries, but now it is happening in our own backyard. It is unclear what the authorities' intentions are, whether they aim to cleanse this ethnic group or commit genocide. In the seven islands, there were not many houses, but each house accommodated 7-10 occupants. According to Borneo Komrad's grassroots observation, they have raised this issue long ago, but the government has not taken any long-term comprehensive initiative. These communities were the guardians of the sea and were an attraction for tourists. Their way of life, their skin color, their diving skills, and the food they obtain from the sea are all important to us.
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Jeffry Ngui, chairman of MUDA Sarawak
*Silenced Voices: Rural Neglect in Sarawak Media*
Jeffrey Ngui recently raised concerns regarding the lack of coverage of rural areas in Sarawak by TVS (an initialism of its former name, TV Sarawak), the state-owned television station. He questions why TVS, and other government-controlled media channels, have been reluctant to report on rural issues, citing reasons such as infrastructure deficiencies and the perceived backwardness of rural communities.
According to Ngui, there appears to be a narrative that portrays rural areas as problem-free zones, which he believes is far from the truth. He notes that platforms like TikTok and social media have become instrumental in showcasing the real conditions of rural life, including issues such as dilapidated roads and bridges. These challenges hinder the rural population from effectively marketing their products outside their communities.
Despite changes in government, Ngui contends that media freedom in Malaysia, particularly in Sarawak, has not seen significant improvement. He argues that true media freedom goes beyond criticizing the government; it should serve as a tool for public awareness and empowerment. Ngui emphasizes the need for media autonomy, where directors have the freedom to report without political constraints.
In conclusion, Ngui calls for a reevaluation of media practices in Sarawak, urging TVS and other media outlets to fulfill their role as not just government mouthpieces but also as platforms that serve the interests of all segments of society. He believes that only through genuine media freedom can the public be accurately informed and empowered.
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Madam Agnes from Selangau
*Left Behind: The Rural Neglect under GPS Leadership*
Madam Agnes shared her observations on the development of villages in Julau and Selangau during the Gawai celebration. She expressed her concern over the apparent lack of significant progress by the Sarawak government in advancing these rural areas. According to Ms. Agnes, the majority of the community is now taking matters into their own hands and actively working towards progress.
In Selangau, she highlighted the pressing issue of many villages lacking access to treated water. This is particularly crucial in modern times, as the community no longer relies on river water for daily use due to contamination concerns. Ms. Agnes emphasized the importance of the government, particularly the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), not just making statements in the media but taking concrete actions to address the development needs of rural areas. She urged GPS to fulfill its promises and ensure that rural development is not neglected.