The controversial Baram Hydroelectric Dam Project (HEP) is put on hold until further notice.
Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem said after receiving much flak for the project, the state will shelf it for now and proceed with the Baleh dam instead.
“We respect their decision for opposing the project and hope they truly understand the impact for refusing it as they will be missing out with related project which are beneficial for them, such as roads and other necessities,” said Adenan to 7500 civil servants at the State Civil Service Day 2015 celebration in Borneo Convention Centre here.
Baram HEP received much flak over the years as anti-dam groups erected blockades and social media campaign.
The anti-dam movement also protested at International Hydropower Association World Congress two years ago despite being allowed to participate.
Earlier this year, the group met with Adenan to discuss on the matter where Adenan agreed on a moratorium pending final decision.
“We will shelf the idea for now, I hope they would not regret with their decision in the future.”
It is a shame that the Chief Minister was moved to be so churlish about this pre-election concession to what local people want.
Why should the people of Baram miss out on anything when their region has just been stripped bare of precious timber (much of it rare endangered and protected species together with their wildlife, now dead) in supposed expectation of that dam?
Where has all that money gone and why should not this have been used to help the people of the region?
Furthermore, since when has dam ‘development’ improved rural lives in Sarawak? Look at the appalling conditions of the Penan in their “resettlement camps” in Murum. The people of Baram took one look at that situation and decided they wanted none of this form of ‘progress’.
Presumably the loggers are already setting about stripping out the timber from Baleh now….. after all, isn’t that the first incentive of the hyenas pushing through these plans?
People close to power will of course already be crowding round for related projects – the sole key benefit of mega-structures in non-transparent states is that they are worth mega-money at a stroke for those greedy characters.
Otherwise, Sarawak would be focusing on sensible micro-dam projects to benefit the most people possible for the least money.
Is Satem just too old and tired to bring genuine reform or is there another reason?