KOTA KINABALU: The issue regarding the proposed bridge in Sukau has once again raged over the week, sparked by accusations made by Sukau assemblyman Saddi Abdul Rahman during the recent State Assembly sitting.
WWF-Malaysia chief executive officer Dato’ Dr Dionysius Sharma wishes to reiterate that this fight is not about the legitimacy of civil society organisations in Sabah, but about building an alternative and sustainable livelihood for the greater population in Sukau and Kinabatangan.
He pointed out that over the last four decades, WWF-Malaysia had advocated relentlessly to keep the natural treasures of Sabah well-managed. The logic is plain simple because forested areas in Sabah provides the key habitats of many rare plants and animals that is crucial to the existence of mankind. When the orangutans or elephants are gone, we will be next in line.
Towards this end, Dr Dionysius disclosed WWF-Malaysia and other civil society organizations had invested in Sabah by raising money donated by the Malaysian public as well as overseas associates to support this worthy cause.
A case in point is the Lower Kinabatangan-Segama Wetlands where Orang Sungai have existed and lived along the Kinabatangan for centuries. Recognizing the value of the Kinabatangan for the welfare of the local people, WWF-Malaysia worked closely with the Sabah Government to establish a wildlife sanctuary in the area to ensure the protection and sustainable use of the floodplain.
He said the conservation of this important wetland not only safeguarded the natural heritage, but provided economic opportunities for local communities through the establishment of nature tourism activities. This has been well-received by the local communities through homestay opportunities and direct employment as nature guides and wildlife wardens.
He reiterated what the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Seri Masidi Majun said earlier in March this year, “the government must look at the issue from several point of views” because the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary containing 26,000 ha was recognized as the “Gift of the Earth” in 1999 and “Corridor of Life” in 2005 by the State Governement of Sabah given its rich biodiversity and sustenance of livelihood for local people.
On the remark made by Masidi to consult the Public Works Department on the bridge or alternatives, Dr Dionysius said there should be a feasibility study to determine the viability of the proposed bridge. The study should show that the proposed project is legally, technically feasible and economically justifiable. In doing so, it will minimize disagreement among stakeholders.
“An important element of the feasibility study is the strategic environmental, social and economic assessment which will promote the full consideration and integration of environmental implications at the early planning stage of a project. This will help to avoid major environmental problems, and to identify environmentally friendly options, rather than mitigating environmental impacts at a later stage, which are often not effective nor cost-effective,” he said.
“Kinabatangan river has earned international reputation as the best place for viewing wildlife in Borneo, if not the whole of Southeast Asia. Should this unique attraction be compromised, Sukau will be just like any other town in Sabah.
“As such, the local representative should strive to maintain the status of Sukau as a must-visit attraction in Sabah. This involves ensuring that any planned development will leave the conservation areas unaffected,” he added.
Saddi had blamed foreign NGOs operating in Sabah for the delay in the construction of the second bridge for Sukau, Kinabatangan.
He claimed in the recent State Legislative Assembly that the NGOs operating on the pretext of conserving wildlife and nature were against the construction of the bridge, which he claimed was something the people of Kinabatangan had wanted for a long time.
The assemblyman also urged government agencies such as the Sabah Wildlife Department, Environment Department and Forestry Department to stop signing memorandums of understanding with these foreign NGOs.
He also claimed that some of the NGOs were using wildlife conservation as a means to garner foreign funding for their own personal benefit and some members of the NGOs that were operating in Sukau were now living in luxury in Kota Kinabalu.