The Sarawak government is much more prepared in handling resettlement exercises of locals affected by the construction of the Murum hydro electric dam following the experience gained from the implementation of the Bakun dam project, said Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud.

He said both sides had an amicable agreement in their negotiations to strike the best interest between having a good ecological environment and enabling the natives, including the Penans to adapt to new ways of life such as intensive agricultural practices.     

"I am sure it will work well and even if the (foreign) non-governmental organisations (NGOs) instigate them, our people will understand that we (state government) are on their side and not against them," he said at the Sarawak Forestry Corporation's annual dinner in Kuching last night.

At the function, Taib, who is also state planning and resources management minister, also launched the book "Sweethearts Of Sarawak," featuring the amazing orangutans of wildlife centres in Matang and Semenggoh here.

He said Sarawak Forestry, which was entrusted to be the implementing agency for Wildlife Monitoring and Rescue Operations (WiMOR) at the Bakun project, had collected 600 flora species, comprising 76 family types, 184 genus and 349 species.

Concern about orangutan

In assisting Sarawak Hydro Sdn Bhd with technical support for the rescue efforts and data collection, Sarawak Forestry had also collected 65 species of fauna, including 27 types of mammals and 38 types of birds.    

On orangutan's conservation and rehabilitation efforts, Taib suggested that the relevant authorities collaborate with their Indonesian counterparts to improve the management of the orangutan's habitat, especially in the context of the Borneo trans-boundary cooperation.

He expressed concern that the orangutan should breed healthily as they were affected by climatic changes, particularly long droughts that occurred from time to time as well as trans-boundary haze.

Sarawak still faced the problem of certain quarters misconstruing that the planting of palm oil tended to destroy orangutan habitat but, in actual fact, they were only confined to areas in Batang Ai, Lanjak-Entimau wildlife sanctuary and Sebuyau National Park, he said.

However, he was happy to see public support in the Sarawak Forestry's conservation drive, such as the Orangutan Adoption programme, as well as public participation through the appointment of 487 honorary wildlife rangers throughout the state.

- Bernama