Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud is not amused with activists calling for environmental protection in the state. “Before they open their mouth, they must understand what is happening now. There is no government project which will destroy the environment,” he was quoted as saying.
Come again? Okay, no “government projects” – but what about private sector projects approved by the government? Are they really environmentally sustainable? We all know the answer to that!
“The government also has the responsibility to ensure that members of the future generation inherit the good environment,” he added.
The million dollar question is, is the government living up to that responsibility? Where have all the rainforests gone?
So the Sarawak state government is concerned about economic prosperity. But economic prosperity for whom? Who gets the lion’s share of this “prosperity”? Which companies will benefit from all these logging and dam projects?
This report from The Borneo Post:
We’ll decide our own future, Taib tells activists
KUCHING: Environmentalists may have their say on the environment but it would be the people in the government who decide on how best to charter the course of the state’s future and also to further develop its economy.
Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, in stressing this here yesterday, said the 12 hydro-electricity dams would go on for the sake of economic development despite the constant criticisms, sometimes destructive, coming from certain activists.
“They voice their concerns but the government decides.
“And we have to weigh development and its impact on the environment,” he said, adding that he could not allow a small group to decide on the betterment and the future of the people.
He added such development would enhance the economy which would then benefit the people of the state.
Taib was speaking during an interview in connection with the state’s 45th independence anniversary at his office here.
He said criticisms, particularly from some environmentalists, only focused on their own point of view or concerns but failed to consider other aspects including economic prosperity.
“What will the people get in the future if they listen to these activists who want the projects dropped?
“After they had protested, would the economic-related problems like hunger and poverty be solved?” he asked.
On the other hand, the government was looking at all angles and perspectives including the economy and the social and environmental factors before implementing or even planning such projects, he pointed out.
He added that it was contrary to what the environmentalists thought because they only looked at the aspect of conservation of the environment.
Should he ever discuss the issue with the environmentalists, Taib said, first of all they must understand the criteria of sustainable and balanced development.
Most importantly, they must understand what the Sarawak government intended to do to generate economic activities.
“Before they open their mouth, they must understand what is happening now. There is no government project which will destroy the environment.
“The government also has the responsibility to ensure that members of the future generation inherit the good environment,” he said.
The government’s plan to build the 12 hydro-electricity dams in Sarawak has been criticised by environmentalists. Among other things, they questioned the impact on Mulu National Park, if the Tutoh dam goes on.
They also worry that the dams would lead to the destruction of Borneo’s natural environment and wildlife and also the displacement of the rural people.
Besides Tutoh, the other proposed dams are located at Ulu Air, Metjawah, Belaga, Baleh, Belepeh, Lawas, Limbang, Baram, Murum and Linau rivers.
The plan which seeks to meet future industrialisation needs would also include an extension of the Batang Ai dam.
Meeting some future need….when they can’t even meet our present basic needs properly. Maybe we should vote for them in the future, distant, most definitely.
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Of course we know the government knows best how to muck up the environment. So if Taib is concerned for the environment why is he negative about environmentalists? If Taib is concerned about economic prosperity then leave the environment alone. Look at Singapore – they clean up their rivers and conserve their environment and that is why they have economic prosperity. Taib should come clean and leave the environment alone.
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CM’s lamentative curse should read like this:
[quote]“Before they open their mouth, they must understand what is happening now. There is no government project which will destroy the environment,”[/quote] =
“Hey, environmentalists, you must keep your bloody mouth shut. This is my land. I am the ruler here. My ministers and I rule here and we are in full power here. Don’t you dare stop my mission. Damn you. It’s my lang, so I will do what I want to do. Who cares?”
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The S’wak government should really be careful with their projects, whether it is to build dams or for oil palm plantations.
Here in NZ, already there are groups wanting to boycott products that use palm oil, saying that oil palm plantations are the ONE threat to orang utans, with Malaysia spearheading the list of “bad countries”.
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No government project??
Heck. The projcts (allegedly) all goes to his own stable of companies albeit under, ostentatiously, the names of other members of his family.
For the people?
Heck. Do you know of anyone who hijacks a heriage site for himself? Witness Mulu Resort smack in the Mulu reserve. And that highly destructive airport in that area.
Heck. DO you know of anyone … in the world who would … alienate himself again, premium land – with water fronts -along the narrow to Santubong?
As if he is the only who can provide and bring development benefits in Sarawak?
Only two projects? Come to Sarawak and you will find that this man virtually owns he entire State and land.
No wonder Michael Black calls him what he calls him…
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Yo Bro Anil
Where you been dozing off man? In the oil palm derainforested music festival?
“Before they open their mouth, they must understand what is happening now. There IS NOW no government project which will destroy the environment,” he was quoted as saying.
Absolutely!!
All that was already gloriously achieved under MP8. Didn’t you know?
Apologise or be prepared to be sued for RM 100 hornbillion !! lol
http://donplaypuks.blogspot.com
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I’ve been following your posts about the Sarawak dam situation for quite awhile. It’s very refreshing to finally find a writer who calls a spade a spade in this damn matter. Please continue to write about this and the other fishy business that has been carrying on for so long. Sarawakians can smell the stink in their land coming from the state’s highest offices, but corruption and abuse of the media has been entrenched for so long and so deeply it’s gonna take a while for local socio-political bloggers to establish themselves and their networks, and for the locals to finally realise they are the kingmakers and the politicians are here to serve the people instead of the other way round.
Keep up the good work and continue writing so that this issue will stay fresh in Sarawakian minds. State elections are only two years away, and sad to say, sometimes Sarawakians can easily forget when bombarded with all the hogwash snd propaganda that passes for news in the local newspapers.
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just two questions.
who is going to buy the excess energy? setting up more polluting and energy gobbling industries such as aluminium smelting?
who is going to get all the timber? your croneis…? (which firm) gonna get the lion share again?
guess, too many questions for you, Taib?
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Arrogance is the word what this bn govt is all about.They will not stop the rape and plunder of Malaysia till they are overthrown.
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This story get me MORE DAMMMMM ANGRY.
This people said they knows the best for people.
This people know the best how to con people.
THIS PEOPLE CALL LEADERS is a real DEMON for the people.
rajraman666.still looking for my last frontier from this DEMON.
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This is the mindset of leaders
Staying too long in power
He thinks he can manipulate his one way track view
He thinks he knows best about environment
The natives know how to treat the forests
They live there for generations and after generations
Now look at the forests in our country
It has slowly dying by the greedy corporate and state leaders
Telling us they know best………………!
If they do
We don’t have so many eco problems here
Even in my area hill cutting for houses still do
I don’t know what the authority think sitting in the cool office
They know the best to deal with the environment?
The best answer I read in the newspaper in the Star
Nobody complained about the hill cutting
But the residents thought otherwise
They called in the state exco and adun for the area to investigate
The hill cutting defying order of the cabinet
We better change
The way these leaders of BN go
In no time we have nothing to sustain our lives
When nature strikes without notice
We are doomed for letting these leaders fly
They know best
Sitting in the cool office
They don’t live in the forests
What do they know than the natives?
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i am tired of how the state is being run, how much longer are we going to really live under the occupation of such regime? i long to see equality & real independence.
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Hei ‘white hair’, the RAKYAT didn’t put you there to do as you please. Was the RAKYAT’s opinion sought? You are there because of the RAKYAT and you should respect our views. This only shows that the BN … only has greed on their minds. Anyway, you (people’s political) days are numbered.
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In the last one year, I have had the rare opportunity and privilege to travel and live in the state of Sarawak. In the travels, I stayed in each of the following towns for a month, Kapit, Mukah, Batu Niah and Bintangor and a week each in Sibu and Miri.
Having stayed in those places and experiencing first hand the conditions there, let me share some of the difficulties the people there face in going about their daily lives.
Firstly, the road conditions are horrible. The trunk roads leading to Mukah from Sibu are one of the worst in Sarawak. A surprising fact as Mukah is the Chief Minister’s constituency. One would expect being the Chief Minister, he would have at least ensured the roads leading to his area were in better shape and condition.
What we have instead is free wi-fi offered for parts of the town. Now, one can applaud the local government for bringing IT to the people but how many of the Melanaus or Ibans in this interior town actually carry a laptop? They barely can survived on their meager income.
A proper road without potholes the size of cars would greatly elevate the hardship of the many of the common people living in the longhouses along the route as compared to having wi-fi free access. Is government funds considered wrongly used when it is to provide free wi-fi instead of proper usable roads?
There are no roads linking Kapit town to the rest of civilisation. The main and only mode linking the people there to the rest of Sarawak is by using the ferry services plying the Rejang River. This is not only costly but dangerous with the numerous floating logs, no thanks to the timber companies upstream who seems to allow their logs to float freely downstream.
The only airstrip in Kapit was closed way back in 1998 dues to lack of used. This is mainly due to the people there cannot such flights and not because they do not want it. The local leaders have for many years voiced their plight but either the local assemblymen and MP are powerless to act or there is just no allocation of fund for such an endeavour. Not from the state nor federal governments eventhough it is the largest Division in Sarawak.
Though a lot has been done for Kapit and there are developments in the form of new schools and in some instances new longhouses but what the people there need badly is a trunk road to spur development of this “island” within the jungle township.
Considering that this is the birthplace of the Iban’s paramount leader the late Tun Jugah, who is most remembered for his audience with the Queen in London in his traditional warrior’s garb and who was involved in the signing of the formation of Malaysia in September 1963, one would expect something more is done for Kapit. It is not too late to include in the 2009 budget the construction of a trunk road here.
There is already a trunk road linking Sibu to Kanowit and all the state government has to do is to estend it to the towns of Song and then Kapit.
Another road that needs upgrading is the Sibu-Bintangor trunk road. One would expect the road here to be better considering it passes through the one and only toll booth in Sarawak, instead here too the potholes are many though not as bad as those leading to Mukah.
Buses plying the route cannot avoid the many potholes resulting in passengers temporary lifted off their seat whenever the buses go over the potholes. On ocassions the bumpy ride would result in bags or stuffs falling off passengers laps and children and old folks losing their balance. Maybe the Exco member in charge of the state transport should emulate our Prime Minister and take the ride to experience for himself first hand the people’s misery.
Roads leading to Batu Niah from Miri are much better. Batu Niah is famous for the Niah caves and to a lesser extent the Bukit Kasut jungle trek within the same sanctuary. As the area is rather swampy, there are gangplanks on tilts for most part of the way leading to Bukit Kasut. Unlike the gangplanks leading to the caves, the condition at Bukit Kasut is one of neglect. Trees fallen across the walkway, rotten planks and unstable conditions are the order of the day.
Upon inquiring the park and museum rangers, they can only shrug their shoulders saying that this is how it has been and funds are not being allocated quick enough to improve the area. What a big letdown for tourism.
Mukah township is not far from the sea. Residents used to swim there as it had one of the nicest beaches. Over the last decade or so, palm oil industry waste from the estates in the district have found their way to the ocean and this has gradually polluted the beaches. Today, the sea water along the beaches near Mukah are brown like “teh tarik” and sticky. The constant beating of the waves along the seashore have churned up thick foams which lined the beaches, like whipped cream on the “teh tarik”. At a glance, one could be forgiven for assuming thata gigantic bottle of shampoo may have spilled its contents there. Nobody swims there anymore and neither do the locals know how to or dare to complaint to the Department of Environment officials for fear of repercussions.
The federal government has allocated RM3.3 billion in the recent 2009 budget. Gerakan Youth hopes that for the good of all Sarawakians especially those living in the interiors will benefit and that there are no leakages in the manner the funds are used.
The federal government definitely do not want any of the state leaders to misuse the sum allocated not the contractors siphoning off development funds. The funds are not for them to build big mansions for themselves and their relatives of fattening their bank accounts.
An example of wastage of unsupervised disbursement of funds can be seen when a library was built in the middle of nowhere along the Bintangor-Sarikei route. The road approximately 15km long has a library right in the middle. Built in such a remote place away from both township, the twonspeople wonders what purpose is it to build the library there out of reach from them except to use up government funding to fill up the pockets of some crony.
This are the type of leakages that must be looked into. one wonders how much it cost to build and fill it with books, even if there are really enough books inside to call it a library. The few occasions I tried using the library only to find it close.
The people of Sarikei and Bintangor are linked by another trunk road 45km in length but most prefer using the shorter 15km route across the Nyelong River via the ferry.
The bridge being build presently has been promised to the people every election for the last 10 years but it is yet to see daylight. Your guess is as good as mine as to when the bridge will actually be ready.
Allegations of such misdeeds and corruption seems aplenty at the lower rung of soceity and on online chats and blogs by Sarawakians but all are unproven. Those who claimed of such misdeeds dare not lodge reports with the ACA or police when challenged to do so.
Nevertheless, Gerakan Youth sincerely hopes the RM3.3 billion is monitored closely or else the people of Sarawak would never benefit no matter how many billions is given to them.
Delren Terrence Douglas
Selangor Youth Information Bureau
Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia
Address : Pemuda Gerakan Selangor
17-B, Jalan Mawar, 56100 Cheras,
Kuala Lumpur
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what does this taib mahmud know about environment? sustainable? what sustainable? if he ever learn about environment, he sure knows about the future impact of his projects…
why need so many dams? bakun dam enough meh? bakun dam more than enough to generate electricity for thousand years in sarawak….
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I got an idea… Take Taib and his family and bring them to my village to live there in a week or a month. Live like other villagers without compromise… Okay ke??
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Sarawak is the only State that have not adopted the Manual Saliran Mesra Malaysia ( MASMA ) since 2001. Why???
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Sarawak is the only State that have not adopted the Manual Saliran Mesra Alam Malaysia ( MASMA ) since 2010. Why???
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