Datuk Kenneth Kanyan
KAPIT: Baleh folk have agreed to the construction of the Baleh Dam on the condition that they benefit from its development.
Kapit Division Iban community leader Temenggong Datuk Kenneth Kanyan said all measures and suggestions put forward by the community should be promptly discussed and adopted before the project begins.
“We want the commitment from SEB (Sarawak Energy Berhad) to fulfil the proposal put forward by the Baleh people who are the stakeholders directly affected by the said project,” he told The Borneo Post yesterday.
“On our part, we want SEB’s assurance and guarantee of a brighter future to enhance our socioeconomic status, our children’s education, and to fully benefit from the government development projects. Our main concerns are socioeconomic implications and children’s access to quality education.”
He said the government should set up a full-time skills training centre here to train young school leavers with the necessary technical skills.
“Armed with the necessary skills in the technical field, they can fill the vacancies made available in Samalaju Industrial Park or be engaged by SEB in future.
“Employment is very important to the rural people to improve their standard of living. Otherwise life would be difficult when logging ceases operations. They would face financial difficulties on how to settle the bank loans for the car and house,” he explained.
He called on SEB to set up a Baleh Trust Fund similar to that of the Bakun Trust Fund, to finance the higher education of children in the community and as welfare aid for those in need.
“For all local tenders, the priority must be given to Kapit contractors. All job opportunities should give priority to the locals, unless they can’t fill the posts because of specific qualifications — only then should they open it to outsiders. Kapit folk want economic activities they can be directly involved in and not just be fence sitters who will lose out at the end of the day,” he stressed.
Kenneth added the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) would completely transform Kapit particularly through infrastructure and basic amenities.