BARAM, MIRI: A delegation of community members from Long Kawa, Long Pelutan, Ba’ Taha, and more expressed their concern and resistance to the Tutoh Cascading Dam project during a prayer and blessing ceremony in Long Kevok on 25th August. The ceremony was to launch the start of the feasibility study of the project and the delegate handed over a resistance letter that detailed their concerns to YB Datuk Gerawat Gala and others in his entourage.
During the ceremony, YB Dennis Ngau in his speech stated that those resisting the project are in the minority and that the majority of the community supports it. When questioned by YB Violet Yong on the lack of consultation and engagements with impacted communities by the project proponents during the State Legislative Assembly session last November – as evident by the 650 signatures that was collected in 2023. He claimed that there were instead 40,000 signatures collected in support of the project.
This statement further confuses community members. “I find it strange that 40,000 people could sign to consent to a project that hasn’t started its feasibility studies yet. When was this massive signature petition held and where?” claims Asai Brat, Headman of Lg Siang.
“As stated in the letter we submitted to YB Gerawat and his entourage here; we are resisting this project because of this lack of transparency and access to information. We have the right as impacted communities to say no to projects at any instance of the process especially when our concerns are not taken seriously by the authorities and our higher-ups Ketua Masyarakat.” explains Jusley Gadong from Long Kawa.
According to a recent report by Human Rights Watch, Sarawak land laws are generally inadequate to protect the internationally recognized rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Sarawak Land Code for instance places an arbitrary cap on the size of Indigenous territories while at the same time maps that show where customary land has been surveyed and where land leases have been granted to companies are not publicly accessible.
Celine Lim, the Managing Director of SAVE Rivers says, “Sarawak cannot afford to keep ignoring these grassroots mobilizations that are expressing their genuine fears and concerns. They have to stop labeling them as just representing the minority and stop calling Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) as instigators. A government that claims to represent the people must ensure all the relevant stakeholders are given full disclosure and are not penalized when they express their concerns and resistance within the process.”
For inquiries and more information, please contact: manager@saverivers.org and selungo@gmail.com.