FROM KADAMAIAN TO PARLIAMENT!

MEMO…Picture shows Lim Kit Siang browsing through the Memorandum on the proposed Sg. Kadamaian dam project submitted by Anti-Dam Action Committee Chairman Jahim Singkui (4^th left), Jabid Umbangan (5^th left), and Jetany Rongod (3^rd right). Also in pictures are Wellon Muyou (left), Jimmy Wong (2^nd left), Teo Nie Ching (4^th right), Dr Hiew King Cheu (2^nd right) and Lim Lip Eng (right).

THE proposed multi-million ringgit Sg. Kadamaian dam project in Kota Belud district is the latest BN government project that has met with strong objection and protest from the local community.

The others include the proposed Kaiduan dam in Penampang district and the coal-powered plant in the East Coast of Sabah. These mega projects require an environmental impact assessment or EIA report which among them must incorporate the feelings and feedback from the local community affected by the projects.

The technical aspect of such projects is quite straight forward but in these proposed dam projects, the grievances and concerns of the local community is not addressed or taken into consideration.

Sabah DAP sympathises with the people of Kg. Tambatuon in Kadamaian. According to the village chief, more than 800 villagers will be affected. Their homes and properties will be submerged by the dam water.

The purpose of building the dam is to provide water to the padi project in Kota Belud, the so-called rice bowl of Sabah. The affected villagers feel that they are paying heavily for a padi project in Kota Belud knowing well that the Kota Belud river is sufficient to provide the water required by the padi project.

To make matter worse, the 78-year old village chief Singkui Tinggi has been removed as village chief after leading a protest against the proposed dam which was widely reported in the press. It looks like the government is constructing the dam for the purpose of having a project and not its necessity. Sabah DAP feels that the PBS-BN representative for Kadamaian has failed to protect and look after the interest of his people.

The Chairman of the anti-dam action committee Jahim Singkui and his secretaries, Jabid Umbangan and Jentany Rongod are now taking the “fight” to a higher level. On 16th September 2010 they were accompanied by Wellon Muyou, the Sabah DAP representative for Kadaimaian and met up with Lim Kit Siang to hand over a memorandum concerning the proposed dam in Kota Kinabalu. Lim Kit Siang has agreed to bring the matter in the next sitting of Parliament which will be tabled by Sabah DAP Chief and Kota Kinabalu MP, Dr. Hiew King Cheu.