Organized by the Save Sarawak’s Rivers Network (SAVE Rivers) and the Baram Protection Action Committee (BPAC), representatives of villages in the Baram District of Borneo, strongly opposed the plans of the Sarawak State Government and Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) to build the Baram Dam. Read the letter detailing their requests below.
For more information on dams in Borneo, please visit: https://borneoproject.org/our-work/ongoing-campaigns/stop-the-dams.
****************
Participants of Dialogue Opposing Baram Dam,
C/O SAVE Rivers,
Lot 1046, 2nd Floor, Shang Garden Shoplots,
Jalan Bulan Sabit, 98000 Miri,
Sarawak, Malaysia
24 June 2012
Mr. Thorstein Dale Sjotveit,
CEO Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB)
9th Floor, Wisma SESCO,
Jalan Bako, Petra Jaya,
93673, Kuching, Sarawak
By: Courier
Dear Sir,
Re: Participants of Dialogue Opposing Baram Dam, organised by SAVE Rivers and BPAC, strongly oppose plans to build the Baram Hydro-electric Dam Project
We the undersigned, representatives of our villages in the Baram District and participants of the Dialogue Opposing Baram Dam, which were organised by Save Sarawak’s Rivers Network (SAVE Rivers) and the Baram Protection Action Committee (BPAC) at Telang Usan Hotel, Miri on the 24 June 2012, respectfully bring to your attention the matter above.
During the said dialogue, we unanimously disagree and strongly oppose the plans of the Sarawak State Government and Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) to build the Baram Dam.
We also disagree with the statements made by our community leaders headed by Temenggong Pahang Ding, our elected representatives i.e., YB Jacob Dungau Sagan, YB Dennis Ngau and Senator YB Lihan Jok and the President of the Federation of Orang Ulu Association Malaysia (FORUM), Mr. Gerawat Gala, saying which the Orang Ulu community in Baram have agree to the said project.
We are also not pleased with the announcement made by Sarawak’s Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu that the resettlement site for the communities affected by the said project has been identified to be between Murum and Bakun (Usun Apau region), whereas the said project is still in the proposal stage and no decision had been made on its approval.
We also refute the statement you made which was published in The Borneo Post dated 20th June 2012 which said that only a small number of activists are making ‘noise’ opposing the said project and that we the Orang Ulu community are ignorant. On the contrary, you yourself are being ignorant to the concerns and pleas of the people of Baram who are going to be affected by the said project.
We wish to inform you that a 3 day meeting with the Orang Ulu communities at Long Na’ah village during the dialogue and ‘Mayau Daleh’ ceremony organised by your company and the State Government from 20th – 21st April 2012 is not the right gauge to say that all the people of Baram have agreed to the said project, because not all the people of Baram were present at that time.
It is with great urgency, we demand the Sarawak State Government and SEB to scrap the planned Baram Dam Project with immediate effect and halt all works at the proposed project site immediately. We will not hesitate to take the necessary actions upon your company as well as the State Government if our objections are not heeded.
We hope that you will seriously take into account our demands and bring it up to the relevant authorities. We want our voices to be heard and our rights respected.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
Participants of Dialogue Opposing Baram Dam
(SIGNATURES AS ATTACHED)
c.c. YAB Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak,
Perdana Menteri Malaysia,
Pejabat Perdana Menteri Malaysia,
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan,
Bangunan Perdana Putri, 62502 Putrajaya
YAB Pehin Seri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud,
Ketua Menteri Sarawak,
Pejabat Ketua Menteri,
Tingkat 22, Wisma Bapa Malaysia,
Petra Jaya, 93502 Kuching,
Sarawak
YB Dato’ Jacob Dungau Sagan
Ahli Parlimen Baram Merangkap,
Timbalan Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri,
Kementerian Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri,
Tingkat 15, Blok 10,
Kompleks Pejabat Kerajaan Jalan Duta,
50622 Kuala Lumpur.
YB Dennis Ngau,
ADUN Telang Usan,
Lot 2109, Lorong 2C – 1A,
Desa Senadin, 98100 Lutong,
Senadin, Miri, Sarawak.
Temenggong Pahang Ding
C/O Resident Office Miri,
Jalan Kingsway,
98000 Miri, Sarawak
Pengerusi,
Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia (SUHAKAM),
Level 29, Menara Tun Razak,
Jalan Raja Laut,
50350 Kuala Lumpur
Senator YB Lihan Jok,
Lot 7513, Sunshine Garden Jalan Aru,
Holiday Park, 98000 Miri,
Sarawak.
Dato’ Ose Murang,
Deputy State Secretary,
State Secretary’s Office
20th Floor, Wisma Bapa Malaysia
93502 Petra Jaya, Kuching
Sarawak
MWH Global Headquartesrs
380 Interlocken Crescent
Suit 200
Broomfield Colorado 80021 USA
Phn. + 1 303 533 1900
Fax. + 1 303 533 1901
ENTURA
89 Cambridge Park Drive
CMBRIDGE 7170
Australia
Encik A. Ravindar,
Setiausaha Sulit Kanan kepada
YB Menteri Sumber Asli dan Alam Sekitar,
Pejabat Menteri,
Level 17, Lot 4G3 Presint 4,
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan
6214 PUTRAJAYA
Your Excellency,
Ambassador,
Royal Norwegian Embassy
53 Floor, The Intermark Complex
Jalan Tun Razak
50400 Kuala Lumpur
Encik Gerawat Gala,
Presiden,
Federasi Persatuan-Persatuan Orang Ulu Malaysia (FORUM),
C/O 1st Floor, Wisma Bukit Mata Kuching,
Jln Tunku Abdul Rahman,
93100 Kuching,
Sarawak
Residen,
Pejabat Residen Bahagian Miri,
Jalan Kingsway, 98000 Miri,
Sarawak
Pegawai Daerah Baram,
Pejabat Daerah Marudi,
98050 Marudi,
Baram