(May 26): Another Sarawak NGO, opposed to the construction of a hydroelectric dam in Baram, has questioned the validity of Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem's claim that he has consent and support of “the silent majority” for the project to carry on.

The Sarawak Native Customary Rights Land Network, or better known by their acronym Tahabas, said the chief minister's claim of support from Orang Ulu community leaders made at a questionable closed-door meeting, was “misleading” and “malicious”.

Tahabas is a network of native communities who are advocating for their native customary rights (NCR) and lands to be recognised and protected by the state government.

Its president Romuald Siew in Miri today, said the chief minister was “clearly being misinformed by so-called professionals and Orang Ulu community leaders” whom Adenan met in a Miri hotel 10 days ago.

Siew, in the press conference, alleged the community leaders were “not from Baram” and therefore do not represent the people of Baram.

He branded them as people with “vested interests in the proposed dam project”.

In the post-meeting media conference, Adenan said he had secured support of the majority of the community leaders there for the RM4 billion project.

"I have secured pledges of these community leaders that they will support the state government in this Baram dam project.

“The majority of the Baram people want the project to start. It is only the minority who opposed it," Adenan was quoted by the media as saying.

He said construction will commence as soon as possible.

But Siew said the chief minister should go to Baram and hear “from the real voices”.

“If the chief minister sincerely wants to know whether the majority of the Baram people accept or reject the proposed dam project, he should not hold a closed-door meeting (with a few select group of people).

“Have as much open and frank consultation with as many people from Baram as he can.”

Tahabas now join Save Rivers and Indigenous Peoples’ Network of Malaysia (Joas), in demanding Adenan immediately withdraw the construction approval he had been given to state power company, Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB), and consult with affected landowners and other stakeholders.

Siew also questioned Adenan's claim of “following international standards and standard operating procedures” in his government’s engagement with the people affected by the dam.

“We have yet to know if any environmental impact assessment or social impact assessment studies have been done for the proposed dam or if they have been approved by the Sarawak Natural Resources and Environmental Board.

“Adenan talks a lot about following international standards and standard operating procedures but there are a lot of questions by the public on what standards he was referring to.

“SEB have not been transparent in their so-called standard operating procedures right from the beginning,” Siew said.

He said the state and its resources are not private properties of a particular person or SEB and as such it is mandatory for those in power “to comply with the relevant laws and regulations and respect the rights of local citizens whose NCR lands and resources are to be submerged by such a mega project”.

The Baram dam is one of 12 large dams the state planned to build to generate the powers for industries in its industrial belt Sarawak Corridor for Renewable Energy.

The dam site is thought to be near Long Kesseh, a few hundred kilometres from Miri and when completed, it could generate 1,200 megawatts of power.

Its reservoir could flood 400 sq km of rainforest and displace some 20,000 people. – The Malaysian Insider