PBS president Joseph Pairin Kitingan’s recent explanation shows that he is supercilious and persistent in going against the rights of the indigenous peoples who have rejected the Kaiduan Dam.

His appeals to not this link this issue with the Kadazan-Dusun-Murut (KDM) issue to “safeguard the interests of all by providing sufficient water supply” when rebutting Moyog assemblyperson Terence Siambun during the budget 2014 debate does not make any sense because Pairin is the president of the Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association and the paramount leader of the Kadazan Dusun Murut communities entrusted to defend the rights of KDMs.

How can he say that he safeguards the interests of all when in fact it is the state that will profit from the water supply business monopoly at the expense of thousands of displaced KDM lives?    

As a deputy chief minister and Huguan Siou, Pairin must learn how to separate both positions or either relinquish them, in order to stop confusing the people by exploiting and abusing his titles.  

Pairin, who is also infrastructure development minister, must now explain how he proposes to solve customary lands rights, food sovereignty, cultural and biodiversity and basic human rights needs. Pairin must make public a proposal and accessible to the people as soon as possible. Next, his ministry must be prepared to offer full compensation to each affected families including future royalties, similar to the demands of the Penans displaced by the Murum dam in Sarawak.

To date, there has been no free and prior informed consent, dialogues and negotiations with the villagers of Terian, Babagon Laut, Timpayasa, Tiku, Buayan, Pongobonon, Kalanggan, Timpangoh and Longkogungan regarding this project. This is a violation of the United Nations Declarations of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

As the world watches how Malaysia deals with indigenous peoples, Malaysians in Sabah must also keep a vigilant watch on their elected representatives; especially those who are self-proclaimed ‘king’.