Masing pleads 'not guilty' over indigenous displacement

Sarawak Land Development Minister James Masing told a tv news channel that he has absolutely no guilt over the displacement of indigenous people caused by the construction of hydro-electric dams in the state.

"I don't feel guilty. I feel that is the correct way of doing it. I don't have any guilt feeling for trying to help my people," said Masing on the Al-Jazeera's 101 East programme Thursday night. [Watch 10-min video]

Host Fauziah Ibrahim had asked Masing if he felt guilty, as a person of indigenous descent, over indigenous people being displaced to make way for economic development.

During the programme, Masing defended the construction of dams, such as the massive Bakun hydroelectric dam and the proposal to build 12 new ones, because the state government was preparing for the future.

"Sarawak has enough energy as it is today. But we must look 20 years down the road. By that time we may not have enough energy. You know very well the cost of fuel (is escalating)," he said.

Masing defends CM

Masing also defended the involvement of Cahaya Mata Sarawak (CMS), a company owned by family members of Chief Minister Taib Mahmud in the construction of the dams.

"The dam constructions are done to legal tenders. The lowest tender gets it. It doesn't matter if CMS or somebody else. It must be done on tender basis.

"That is very transparent. The international community can take a look at it… it is an open book for everyone to look," he said.

When Fuziah pointed out that there are numerous cases in which projects were given to companies linked to Taib without open tenders, Masing said: "I was not aware of it".

Fuziah replied by that the Similajau aluminum smelting plant was given to CMS while the construction of several bridges were awarded to Titanium Management Sdn Bhd, which Taib's eldest son Mahmud Abu Bekir holds substantial interest in.

‘Everything was transparent'

Even with evidence presented before him, Masing maintained that these awards were given fairly and in accordance with the law.

"We have rules and laws... If there is a decision made by people who have vested interest, there are laws which does not allow it. It is illegal for people in authority to give authority with vested interest.

"All these things have been done through open tenders. They are transparent," he said.

"In the case of the aluminum smelter, there were a few companies that were asked to bid for it. I know. And the best company gets it.

"Unfortunately, it was given to a company where the authority has some interest. But it is done legally," he added.

‘I'm a friend of the chief minister’

Meanwhile, Fuziah also scrutinised Masing over his links to Taib. Masing admitted that he was an "ally" to Taib, but gave a less outright answer when asked if he was Taib's "crony".

"I don't think (so). Crony means friends. I am a friend of the chief minister," he said.

On whether there was "crony capitalism" going on in Sarawak, Masing replied in the negative because no one has been brought to book over such matters.

"I don't think so. If there is, those who deal in it would be dealt by the law. Until today, there is nothing. One must assume there is no cronyism as such," he said.

On who would keep the chief minister and his family accountable, Masing said the electorate would.

"I believe the voters in Sarawak are a very intelligent group of people," he added.

VIDEO Interview with James Masing l 10 min