River conservation drive launched

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PAPAR: More than 60 people including representatives from villages throughout Sabah gathered at the Hutan Lipur in Kawang here for the launching of Save Sabah Rivers Coalition’s ‘Sungai ditangan Kita’ (River in our Hands) campaign.

According to the campaign’s organising chairperson, those who attended the event came from as far away as Tawau, Keningau, Ranau, Pitas, Kudat, Tongod, Kota Belud and Penampang as they wanted to be part of the campaign to save Sabah rivers from destruction caused by converting them for other uses such as dams.

“For centuries, indigenous communities such as those from Ulu Papar have depended on forest ecosystems for their way of life, one that is becoming increasingly rare in today’s society.  Now the indigenous community of Ulu Papar themselves are threatened by the proposal for a dam in their area.

“We believe that development does not always have to come at the expense of our communities or natural heritage as Sabah has plenty of other alternatives other than one that would destroy one of Sabah’s cleanest rivers.

“As such with other partners, today we launched our Save Sabah Rivers Coalition in conjunction with the International Day of action Against Dams and Rivers, Water and Life,” she said adding that Save Sabah Rivers is a coalition of eight NGOs and civil society groups concerned about the state of our rivers.

Coalition members include Stop Kaiduan Dam Taskforce, Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (JOAS), Partners for Community Organisation (Pacos Trust), School of Acting Justly, Loving Tenderly, Treading Humbly (SALT), Tomphinai Ningkokoton Koburuon Kampung (Tonibung), Land Empowerment Animals People (LEAP), Borneo Youth Revolution (BYR) and Community-Led Environmental Awareness for Our River (CLEAR).

Giun added that the protests of those residing along the Kaiduan river where the proposed dam is to be built were not heard by the relevant quarters which is why Save Sabah Rivers Coalition will become their ‘voice’.

“The villagers’ voice about the problems faced when there is development along the river is too soft and cannot be heard. So we hope that we, as a Coalition can be a louder voice in creating awareness about the need to protect our rivers for the benefit of those living along it.

“This campaign is very important as it can create awareness among people who are from outside Ulu Papar about the threats facing the river, the environment and the villagers here such as the proposed Kaiduan Dam,” she said.

Giun added that through the campaign, they hope to create awareness as to the negative effects the Kaiduan Dam would have on the river quality and how it would have adverse effect on the more than 1,000 people living in Ulu Papar.

The construction of the dam not only involves a very high cost, but would also threaten the river quality and have detrimental effects on the environment as well as the people who have been living there all this time, she lamented.

“It is my belief that only with the community’s cooperation can we conserve our rivers,” she said.

On the coalition’s future plans, Giun said that several programs including river protection campaigns have been planned and will be held throughout the state.

“Seeing that today’s program is the first one implemented by the coalition, we hope that more NGOs will also do their part in creating public awareness on the importance of protecting and conserving our rivers.

“I therefore urge the community to start thinking about how important rivers are to the state and country. We are here to help and guide as well as encourage them to start doing something towards the noble cause of protecting our rivers.

“It may be a small step but it will bring positive results in the long run,” she stressed.