While our administration seems to be content with its control over the current unrest and 'Allah' ruling issue, another matter seems to have slipped under the radar, or at least away from public attention.

Buried in the back portions of the business sections, I read with interest about the Chinese government's intent to pour US$11billion into the state of Sarawak (although Bernama termed it as an RM11billion investment).

The Star reports it as 'a potential boon to [the] country's flagging foreign investments' whilst Bernama called it a boost to Sarawak's economy.

Sure, our national FDIs have been suffering as of late due to the uncertain future surrounding both this country's social and economic aspects, and we ought to be excited by more money coming in, especially since we don't have a lot of it these days.

But a question that needs to be asked is: Does the country's largest state really need commercial intervention by the most powerful nation in Asia?

China's investments in some African nations such as Sudan have been a cause for concern in the international community. Despite having signed multiple oil-and-trade agreements with Sudan, the country has been in a state of emergency since 2003, especially in the war-torn areas in its western region of Darfur.

Now it would be puerile to compare Malaysia's current status to that of Sudan. We haven't had a serious insurgency since the late 60s, and while we do have refugees in certain parts of the country, it's nowhere near as bad as the millions of displaced individuals in the stricken African nation.

And despite signing a series of billion-dollar trade agreements with China, Sudan still ranks as one of the lowest countries in the world when it comes to human development.

Despite being one of the fastest growing economies, its president, Omar al-Bashir has been issued an arrest warrant for war crimes by the International Criminal Court; a matter that China has expressed regret and worry over (according to the Xinhua News Agency ).

From a report by the Malaysian Insider , local government officials said that FDIs by China's State Grid Corporation (SGC) will be spread over a few years and will involve developing the energy and manufacturing sectors in the Sarawak economic corridor.

Now tell me if that doesn't ring any warning bells in your head. It certainly does for me, as it draws some sort of comparison between our country and that of Sudan's.

Especially in a state where 12 more dams are awaiting construction, or some manner of completion; a notion already highlighted in 2008.

The effects have already been felt throughout this East Malaysian state, especially with the resettling of 15,000 indigenous people, and in some cases, forced removal from their ancestral lands.

And it doesn't end there, not with reports of indigenous women being raped by logging employees, or the fact that some Sarawakians deep in the rural heartland don't have any MyKads.

If not these examples, then consider the starkest evidence of them all, staring right at us in the face: The rapid deforestation of one of the world's largest rainforests.

It is unclear as to how much of the state's forests have been removed, with some numbers ranging from 50 to as high as 90 percent.

A quick foray into the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) website however, reveals that between 1996 and 2000, the average sawlog exports from the state measured more than 14,000,000 square metres.

But back to the quiet announcement of the planned Sarawakian corridor, wouldn't you find it a little strange that neither side gave details of the project? According to the Financial Times ' website, China's SGC doesn't seem fit to release any news on projects, claiming a lack of authorisation.

It is further explained in the Financial Times that the trade agreement between Malaysia and China will involve proposals for at least four more dams, coal mining plants and many, many more. All of this on a corridor measuring over 320km in length. In a state where an approximate 2.5 million inhabitants reside.

Some of you might scoff at this, and say that our country could use the extra cash. We should make use of our natural resources, especially in the face of a rising economy. We ought to somehow compete with the rest of the world, or lose out in the global market.

At what cost, however? The possible relocation of 608,000 people (according to the Financial Times ) from their homes?

Although this number is definitely subject for review, there's no denying the implications that such a project will have on Sarawakian land.

Will we soon see lines and lines of displaced individuals, living out the rest of their lives in makeshift refugee camps? Runaways in their own country?

And let's not forget the huge amount of societal and economical problems, just waiting to explode like a ticking time-bomb.