MIRI: Kenyah social activist John Barah Aning claimed that the proposed Baram hydroelectric dam project is very “confusing” because many questions are still lingering unanswered.
For one, he is not sure whom to turn to for the official answers.
“There are many questions that need to be answered by the Baram Dam Consultative Committees (CC), one lead by Senator Lihan (Jok) and another by Datuk Jacob (Sagan). Just which CC should the people turn to?” he asked when approached for comments yesterday.
John said the 20,000 people affected by the project still had no idea where the resettlement areas would be, and how much land each affected family would be allocated as a form of compensation.
“The land titles must be in perpetuity to adequately compensate them for their sacrifices for the project,” said John, who is from Uma Akeh, located downstream of the proposed dam.
He also wanted to know if the road network from Long Lama to the dam site, Naah Uvei, would include feeder roads to all longhouses downstream.
“Are they going to build viable infrastructure that used to exist in towns like Long San, such as airport, St Pius Primary School, mission quarters, and secondary school?”
John said construction of Baram Dam would take years, and thus longhouses below the dam area would suffer as the river would become muddy, smelly, and too shallow for most boats.
“I foresee residents in the upper reaches area spilling over to populated areas downriver, thus potentially causing social problems. How can the CC guarantee such a situation will not become a serious problem for Baram folks?”
John also wanted to know about compensation for their farmed lands and cemeteries of their loved ones.
“I hope that the people’s voices will not be ignored.”