The release of the Social and Environmental Impact Assessment (SEIA) report on the Murum dam is nothing more than a "last minute public relations exercise", according to Save Sarawak's Rivers Network (Save Rivers).

The Sarawak NGO questioned why the State Planning Unit (SPU) has only released the report on the proposed Metalun Resettlement and Tegulang Resettlement sites as well as the Murum Service Centre for the Penans on Oct 11.

"The question why the SEIA report has only just been released when about 75 percent of the Murum dam has been completed, begs to be asked," said the NGO in a statement today.

NONE Its chairperson Peter Kallang ( right ) said: "We have heard that earthworks for the two proposed resettlement sites have already begun.

"Therefore, does it make sense to ask for public comments on the SEIA report now?

"This sounds like a last-minute public relations exercise to me, and not a genuine effort to get proper feedback from the public."

The NGO said SPU principal assistant director (environment and natural resources) Andrew Tukau had been reported in March 2010 as saying, "the state government will conduct SEIA on all future hydroelectric dam projects in Sarawak, starting with the Murum Dam."

Making the same mistakes

Kallang lamented that two and a half years later, the locals are still waiting for the report on the construction of the Murum dam itself.

"We were told that Murum dam would be the model to amend for the mistakes previously made in Bakun mega-dam, and other dams in Sarawak.

"Sadly, it appears that the government is making the same mistakes all over again, and the Penan communities of Murum are now paying the price," he said.

Tukau, according to the NGO, in the same report also claimed that there would be "no involuntary resettlement as was done in previous dam projects" and that the resettlement action plan would have a new monitoring, evaluation and reporting mechanism.

NONE However, locals are unhappy with the state over their treatment and have blockaded the road to the dam since Sept 26, bringing construction works to a standstill.

Earlier this week, Save Rivers disputed news reports that the blockade had ended, saying the Penan protestors are persevering until their demands are met.