Sabah Natives Strikes Back….”we’ll defend our lands and rights with our lives”
Posted by Charles Gau
Dayakbaru:
Should Sarawak Dayaks stand and defend their lands and native’s right with their lives?
1 Malaysia?
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Dato’Seri Najib’s infamous 1Malaysia, People First, Performance Now slogan is now nothing more than just hot air and hogwash. Sabah’s indigenous communities in the interior of Penampang are bemoaning and up in arms against the RM 2.8 Billion Kaiduan Dam which has been approved by the State Government of Sabah. The dam which has yet to obtain any Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) and Social Impact Assessment was given the nod by the State Cabinet via a Letter of Intent(right) to WCT Berhad – yes the same contractor as the Kota Kinabalu International Airport.
9 Villages will be wiped out
The dam, if allowed to commence construction, will submerge 12 square km of forest and agricultural lands. What is worse, it will totally wipe out 9 villages that have been there for hundreds of years. This is a clear violation of the rights of the natives of Penampang for “Prior Free and Informed Consent” must be obtained as stated in the United Nations Declaration on the rights of indigenous people of which Malaysia is a signatory.
Affected Village
The affected villages are Buayan, Terian, Babagon Laut, Timpayasa, Tiku, Longkogungan, Kalanggaan, Pongobonon and Kionop. In addition agricultural land in the 5 villages of Bolotikan, Koiduan, Bisuang, Kogopon and Limbahau alongside the Papar river will be severely affected; notwithstanding the complete destruction of the historical heritage and the unique biological and eco-system of Papar and the Crocker range.
We will defend our land with our life
I visited one of the would be affected villages and had the opportunity to speak to Nousi Giun, Chairman of the Joint Action Committee against the dam. It’s unbelievable and shocking that after 46 years on the formation of Malaysia, our journey to the village is a clear shame with all the government slogans and promises-the infrastructures are pathetically still 46 years behind time. To sum up my 1 hour chat with Nousi Giun – he made it explicitly clear that “they’re not interested in any compensation, relocation or compromise. We will defend our native land with our lives”. The population of the 9 affected villages is approximately 2500, all bonafide Sabahan natives.
Misleading ground report
What is even more mind-boggling is that WCT Berhad had the cheek to state in their feasibility study report to the State Government that the “dammed dam site” was uninhabited, which is clearly misleading. No one came to the ground and consulted us, added Nousi. The villager’s plight is also supported by environmentalist and renowned NGO’s such as PACOS, JICA and JOAS among others who have also provided financial aid in uplifting the living standards of the villagers running in millions.
UMNO involvement in the Dam
On the political front and for the record, Penampang is under UPKO, a component member of the coalition of UMNO/Barisan Nasional. The MP who was once rejected by his own constituents is none other than Tan Sri Bernard Dompok. It was reliably learnt that Bernard’s silence was because of UMNO’s involvement in this dam project. What is even more shocking is that while the natives of Penampang are being ousted from their own lands, Bernard Dompok is busy opening UPKO branches in West Malaysia and recruiting the Orang Asli as members.
Minister claim ignorance on Koiduan Dam
Recently as well, I had this rare opportunity in engaging with Datuk Masidi Manjun-Sabah Minister of Tourism and Environmental in Facebook. The engagement was so intense that he flip flop in his text. He had the cheek to claim ignorance in the Koiduan Dam project and further added that even Bernard Dompok is also unaware of the Dam which is costing RM 2.8 Billion of tax payers money. If this is not conscientious stupidity, then Sabahans have voted a bunch of morons into government. Is the Sabah Government being administered by a kitchen cabinet, and on a need to know basis? Who is actually calling the shots in Sabah?
Logging done even before the dam is agreed upon by the people
The Koiduan Dam is said to be 3 times larger than the Babagon Dam, also situated in Penampang and richly surrounded by timber. Interestingly enough, during my visit, I noticed that logging has already started which perhaps is one of the reasons why the government is adamant in pursuing the project.
Development or Destruction
The question to ask here is, “Is this development or destruction? If it’s development for whom is it and at whose expense?”
Are Sabah’s natives part of One Malaysia or Gone Malaysia?
The government always seems to be putting the cart before the bull – all under the name of development – a convenient and useful catch-word to camouflage corruption, arrogance and incompetence.
Memorandum has been prepared
A memorandum is currently in the process and the villagers will not hesitate to hand-deliver the memorandum to his Majesty our beloved King, if the State Government of Sabah proceeds with the dam.
Change WE Must. BN is a government for the rich and powerful only.
Popularity: 29% [?]
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Inspirational word from gkm2020
Put it this way, it would be like comparing Apples to Pairs. Sarawak and Sabah are two different States and I don’t think the Dayaks from Sarawak, are near to unison, than the KadazanDusun in Sabah, who were able to hold on to their State, several times, before the influx of criminal Malayan Malay spies and Politicians destroyed the KadazanDusun Alliance, and reduced Sabah to merely another Malay colony in all including name. But Dompok should know something about breaking Sabah, he sold himself to the Malay Colonialists of Kuala Lumpur when he broke ranks in Pairin Kitinggan’s Sabah for Sabahans front.
As far as I am concerned, the Sabahans are finished. Look at Dompok, an impotent KadazanDusun, seeking Sakai’s from Malaya to join his Party. How pathetic. As for the Sabahans themselves, they are a soft touch, they are morally bankrupt, they are invaded by Filipino and Indonesian Nationals, and they have no rights compared to these migrants who are now the majority in Sandakan, Semporna, Tawau and Lahad Datu. And the Filipinos and Indonesians are far more committed and far more advanced than the Sabahan native, after all 500 years of Spanish Civilization, and 300 years of Dutch Missionary rule have advanced these nationals to a stage, where they understand how to survive and how to cope with survival compared to some dumb UPKO politician we all know today. DumbPoke instead of Dompok, should be his name.
Anyway, the Dayaks in Sarawak are finished as well. No more PBDS, No more SNAP, no more NCR, no more culture, no more language, as far as the Malay is concerned, assimilating the Dayak is the objective, by whatever means necessary. So Dayakbaru, you have your hands full if you want to protect your longhouse in Gelam. The Cina and Laut in Sarawak, can’t wait to bulldoze your longhouse, and then put shackles on your relatives. You’ve seen what the Malays have achieved with the Punan in your Kampung, you think they can’t do it to your relatives in Sebauh, Dr Brian???
Should Sarawak Dayaks stand and defend their lands and native’s right with their lives?
________________________________________________
DL (unlike DB) value their life. DB can surrender their life as their life might be worthless…but I want to remind DB to buy life insurance policy for thier love one.
Dear Sir,
I like the way you fight for the rights of your (our) people.
In the same spirit it will be really great if you can champion the issue of semester break holidays in 2010 which the Education Ministry high handedly fixed on the second week of June, thus creating havoc with the plans of people to go back to East Malaysia from peninsular.
I have written to the Star (already published) but we need preasure groups in a bigger scale to bombard news protals and MPs sothat the education ministry will come to their senses and MPs take up this matter seriously.
I truly wish all of us can come together on this.
thank you
Should Sarawak Dayaks stand and defend their lands and native’s right with their lives?
________________________________________________
What kind of statement is this?
If you think this way please ask/seek/look for the second thoughts. This is not the 18 century where tyrants ruled. There is also no need for another bloodshed going to be recoreded in the history of Sarawak.
Let the present BN government developed yours idle lands. Turn a new leaf with a smooth heart or a new start and joining hands and hands with the BN government developed our vast NCR lands.
Trust us your childrens, grandchildrens,great grandchildrens will appreciate and grateful for your wise actions. The BN government will never fail you!
No need to send RED ALERT and put on a spear,blowpipe,shield or whatever and fighting a losing battle!
HIdup Pakatan Rakyat. “Lawan Tetap Lawan”
Dear friends,
What is perhaps misleading is: “what the writer of the article had written”, given he is a good writer.
He had interviewed Nousi Giun for over an hour and he claimed, I quote, “they’re not interested in any compensation, relocation or compromise, we’ll defend our lands and rights with our lives.”
I detected what the writer claimed was Nousi Giun wanted first was compensation and relocation which he said the company was not interested to entertain him and the company would not compromise.
It is not the same as the 2500 people all wanted to defend the lands and rights with their lives.
Perhaps, only Nousi Giun alone wanted to defend his land and right with his life.
My suggestion is for the people affected to seek alternative solutions and courses of action, without having to defend with their lives if that was what they wanted to or what Nousi Giun wanted to.
The orang asli had in the past fought and won their case in Peninsular Malaysia. Sabahans and Sarawakians can learn a thing or two from the orang asli.
Meanwhile, bring the case to the Agong and the Prime Minister. I am sure the PM will look into it and if it is justified, he will intervene.
The dayaks should defend the lands and rights, truly and legally theirs, with all their resources, cooperation and wisdom, without the loss of a single drop of blood or live.
God be with the dayaks in their claim of the lands and rights, truly and legally theirs.
Thank you, friends.
aku terus terang meh ngagai bala semua…
menyadi kitai d sabah….mayuh udah tanah…pesaka diempu serta diempu cina…..
semua 2 suba maya sida bala bangsa dusun agi ndai nemu reti pendidikan keliak….baka ba area keningau…
sepngudah bangsa dusun di gabung engau kadazan..dia sida bc majority serta bngsa dusun bsi terjamin..mimit laban taja kdazan mina mimit ianya Tggal ba area papar seta penampang….tang kdazan ga mayuh agi educated ari sida….
nyetuk ka palan nanam kubis ba keningau semak mount kinabalu pan diato ukai bala dusun..tang cina….
bisi ga bala entua ngadu tanah di Papar…lbn sekeda tanah d papar laban takut ka tanah pesaka mega di sungkur….
Hello DB Friends,
Sabah politic is totally different from us. They are totally controlled by UMNO. While Swk is in the hand of Swkian. Our CM and our paramount chief are locals, both committed to develop swk to a greater social and economic heights. So we are safe from the tyrant west Malaysia politicians.
But DB Group is assimilating themselves with PKR now. Are they sure this people will not destroying Swkian, if they were to be given a power.
I was living in Penampang for several years. My close friend while in Penampang was Joanes Lubunda, a prominent lawyer. He is a Kedazaan, is born and staying in Penampang now. During his early days he studied in College Tanjong Lobang, Miri, at same time as YB Aidan Wing.
Soon after he graduated from UM in late 1970s he worked as magistrate in Miri. However, later he worked for BERJAYA GOV’T as legal adviser. I learnt a lot of Sabah politics from him.
Actually Sbh is a safe haven, not only for the local but for foreigners like Indon, Filipino, Pakistan and Indian. The local people are more open minded when compared to the natives of Swk.
Large part of Sbh have been developed mainly for oil palm, koko & rubber trees. Oil palm plantation is sprouting all over the places, but more concentrated in Lahad Datu and Tawau.
However, rubber plantation is concentrated in Sipitang area, because more demand for rubber in Sipitang town , being situated near to the swk border where the price of rubber is higher by rm1.00 in Swk where compared Sbh. The price is being controlled by Lembaga Getah Negara while is Swk is free market.
Undeniable Sbh is always facing energy crisis and also water crisis especially during the dry season. Babagon Dam was constructed 10 years ago is meant to supply enough water for the KK and Pemanpang areas.
However more acute is the power shortage. In a week in Penampang area, at 3 times electricity supply experienced black out. People could not bear this anymore particularly the business people.
Sometimes last 2 years a power station was proposed in Lahad Datu for electricity generation. But being opposed by NGO, because it will be powered by coal, which caused pollution of air. Now the govt planned to harness energy by means of hydro using Kaiduan Dam. But still being opposed.
May be the last resort is the NUCLEAR POWER, and I hope by this time CAHRLES GAULES is already 6 FEET UNDERGROUND, NO CHANCE TO oppose or ENJOY CONTINOUS SUPPLY OF ELECTRICITY.
Nya aja kaban.
Fed. Gov. are still occupying us, spread their power by Federalisme and Islamized all important factors, including education, economy and public services in Sarawak. More M/alays are coming to Sarawak, Borneo generally. Years by years percentage of M/alays in Sarawak increasing..maybe someday Malayan M/alay will be more than local Sarawakian M/alay in Sarawak..someday percentage of local Borneo Bumis will be lower than Malayan M/alays in Sarawak..
‘Kerani opis tanah’
Manah penemu nuan igat ka ngemansang ke rayat ngena cara bekunsi ke tanah adat.
I hope you don,t repeat that statement anymore. we are fade up. If you do things nicely before nobody will oppose you, but the developement that you mention clearly seen as a cheating bussiness.
The Dayaks now are not so blind as before not so stupid not so lazy not so coward and not so easy to fool as someone might think they are. If there is no other alternative of course they are willing to do anything even to part with their life for the sake of their property. Dayaks now are now like a wounded bear so should be handled with care.
History of the Dayaks are not too old to remember.
My advice to KOP and Yang dikasihi, just send your L&S staff to do the work, give land title and the big problem will be solved. If you still cling to what you think is right, you are not only ignoring the Dayaks right but destroying the whole peaceful state.
I peek into Sabahforum to get more background on this article.
Interesting that there are many parallels and differences with land issues over here in Sarawak.
1. The 2000-odd people were caught by surprise ..
2. Well-known political figures and a company ..
3. Federal-funded project …UMNO bizpolitics
4. Infrastructure Fed project – good for Sabah
5. Sloppy Feasibility Study, EIA, SIA, etc etc ..
6. Logging started -before- FS was completed !
7. Angry natives .. but destitute & powerless
If I were to put aside for the moment, any notion of deliberate wrong-doing for easy money through corrupt practise, there is still the apparent project management failure to engage the natives in the area.
It looks to me, while government officials may display with pride Social Impact Assessment report prepared by consultants, I have always suspect that such study would be prepared for show.
While and infrastructure project such as electricity supply, which is notoriously unreliable in some parts of Sabah, would benefit many people, the project governance – must be designed so that it does not become a symbol of the tyranny by the majority (to borrow a political science lexicon).
Incidentally – something should be said of the phrase “tyranny of the majority” : as can be observed in news forum and coffee shops, the Malaysians political mind seem relatively stuck in the Middle Ages in allowing the majority absolute right to oppress the minority; while modern system of government would go the extra mile to design its political structure and implementation of public policy, to avoid tyranny of the majority.
This little story on the Kaiduan Dam, exemplified the dismissive attitude by all parties involve toward the natives in the area, that may have its roots in the typical Malaysian psyche that if it is ultimately good for the majority public at large, all opposition to the project would be crushed by hook or by crook. In the face of such injustice, one can’t help rooting for the victim to get a just and fair resolution.If the evil empire is too strong, one would certainly hope for the victims to have the strength and courage to be persistent – and yet to not giving in to a bloody confrontation.
hmm i wonder where is dayaklama and john jamban? so quiet…
changop4050 on November 10th, 2009 10:43 am
Should Sarawak Dayaks stand and defend their lands and native’s right with their lives?
________________________________________________
DL (unlike DB) value their life. DB can surrender their life as their life might be worthless…but I want to remind DB to buy life insurance policy for thier love one.
………………………………………..
Cahngopngop,
I have to believe that you have sold your soul to the devil too.How much? Heh…
Dear Blogger Friend,
KAIDUAN DAM-BRINGS MORE BENEFIT TO PEOPLE IN KK, PAPAR, BEAUFORT, BONGAWAN.
I just came back from KK where I have informal dialogue with YB Marcus Mojigoh & Lamsimbang during last weekend.
We have breakfast at Hotel Travel Lodge & Adventure, in Putatan, belongs to an Iban from Sibu. It is 3 stars Hotel. Then, we drived to Donggongon (Penampang town) before we make further inward journey to Papar using the old Papar Road.
However we on the way, we detoured to Ulu Sungai Inobong, Penampang, where big bungalows of YB Philip Lisimbang, YB Benard Dompok and also YB Marcus Mojigoh. We have tea in YB Marcus big house. We shared a lot funny stories of the early days in Malaya.
After that we proceed to Papar town using the new road passing many Kedazaan villages. We proceed further toward the Croocker Range Park and there we have coffee again.
As we continued sipping our coffee on the top of mountain overlooking Papar in the East, Keningau in the West, while KK in the north, we discussed many issues. But the most important issue is the critical water supply and electricity supply of the Papar areas.
If you ever live in KK or Papar, only then you have experienced the electricity black out is not less than 3 times a week. The water is another problem, low pressure and water rationing almost every night.
The state govt realised these have to be tackled immediately. The opposition like DAP and SPDP (Yon teck LE) party are CAKANG KOSONG only.
The Sabah state govt proposed many options to solve both energy and water problems. One of the options is to import electricity from Swk, probably from LAWAS dam. Other alternative is to set up power generation plant in Lahad Datu but opposed by NGO.
Kaidun Dam is just another proposal. It is situated within the mountain ridges of Inobong and Papar. The dam is designed to generate electricity and water supply for large population of people in Papar, Beaufort and KK. The state govt had studied the social impact of this project carefully. Both NGO and govt agencies had worked best for the people. Don’t worry, BN is doing best for the people under 1MALAYSIA CONCEPT.
Nya aja kaban.
JJ,
Deep in your heart I know you CARE about Dayaks.But definitely, I have to disagree with you that “BN is doing best for KETUANAN MELAYU” because UMNO plays big brother role in Malaysian politics. All BN-friendly Dayaks are subsurvient to big brother for a share of the pie even if they must sell their soul altogether.Stop.
august,
Selling thier soul not too bad, at least still got residual valvue.A person with no soul like you what to sell? Maybe your backside there is a ready buyer in the person of DSAI, correct, correct, correct.
Ha…I never liked DSAI but Malaysian know he was acquitted of the first charge. The present charge is under investigation, so it is improper for MJC to become the judge. The general view is that the second charge is a set-up to get DSAI busy.I suggest MJC set up a real charge…I mean a real one, so that DSAI has no way to run.I never give a damn about DSAI.So , i still have my a.. h..e and soul intact.
But you admitted you have sold your soul, sad.
Here we believed that how the politic playing they roles just for make profit to themselves, families & their colony only.It is not about the development instead to dismissed our culture and land as a bumi in sarawak. disagreed, Even their are not look foward the impact what their are proposed which effected most people, land and environment. In persective, we have no value at all and just to developed & values among them. The land where our old man born,grown up & living on the land ages ago. These already happened to sarawak folks nowadays such as case accured in Bakun Projects, thounsand of people who staying there have to look for other relocation. what benefit & profit those the goverment gives them? there are not educated at all, how do there earn money? they just depending on there land to fullfill there needs such as source,food & drink. that the way how and what they do in daily in there own land. Sabah is an example for us as Sarawakian. we play the biggest roles, we are the first polictic who create the official polictic.
Aya Bujang Tuai
I really appreciate and respect your advised. I know as a senior citizen and at your golden age you must have a vast experience and a lot of going through. While i m just mid tweenthies and gred N17.
Furthermore i know you are genuine in your thoughts in this DB. And most of all i like parables based on your experience since its contain wise message.
But due to some differences in our approach, principle and thought does’nt mean we cannot be friend or brother. Even political parties with different agenda,goal,religion,colour can FORM PAKATAN. What more to say we have the same blood brother,
Only our perceiptions and rules that tied and bound us, make us distinguished from each other such as PERSEKITARAN and G.O.
john jamaban…really…
i live and work In kk…and my wife is kadazan from kg.sugud sabah.tang dini aku bejalai serta dini aku diau…aku x kala tggal politic serta pendiau pengidup kitai d menoa….
Change we must…..
manah meh ti meri…benefits agai bala…menyadi kitai…d sabah ditu….
laban ukai mina tanah aja kena…rumah pan kena…serta disungkur,nya siti sebab..ga…paling besai nya tanah pusaka…
apa pun rakyat didahulukan….kih…