The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has been urged to shelve a proposal to loan up to RM 148 million for the ‘Trans-Borneo Power Grid’ (power transmission lines) project in Sarawak.

In a letter to ADB president Takehiko Nakao, a group of 40 NGOs said ADB should not fund the project to build transmission lines as the company behind it is being probed for corruption.

They said that Sarawak Energy Bhd has also been accused of breaching the rights of indigenous peoples.

By approving the loan, they said, the bank will be associating itself with corruption.

 

“Our research has proven that state-owned Sarawak Energy has awarded contracts worth at least US$400 million (RM1.31 billion) to companies linked to the family of Sarawak’s long-time ruler Abdul Taib Mahmud over the last six years.

“Communities affected by Sarawak Energy’s operations have also reported several attempts of bribery by company staff to the Malaysian police,” said Anna Meier of the Bruno Maser Fund in the joint statement.

The statement was issued by Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (JOAS), Save Rivers, Bruno Manser Fund, International Rivers and the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact.

 

Peter Kallang from Save Rivers added the building of transmission lines would mean the damming of rivers which is the “lifeblood” of the local communities.  

 

The NGO’s also stated that even though the move would allow production of “cheap” electricity for consumers, it puts the indigenous people at stake. 

 

“It is the indigenous people - the Kayan, Kenyah, Penan, Iban, Kajang and Bidayuh - whose customary lands and livelihoods are at stake in this equation.

“If the ADB approves the loan, they will also become associated with the social and environmental problems related to the generation and export of hydropower from Sarawak,” said Thomas Jalong of JOAS.

 

NCR land grab in Perak

 

Meanwhile in Perak, an indigenous community has protested the use of their customary land for an agricultural and agro-tourism project by the state government.

The project encompasses a 63.88-hectare land inhabited by indigenous communities from six villagers - Kampung Pawong, Kampung Chiduk, Kampung Sungai Penuh, Kampung Palas, Kampung Jantung Baru and Kampung Pos Atap Baru.

The land is said to have been reclassified from a forest zone to an agriculture zone in order to develop the area and promote agro-tourism.  

In a statement today, PKR’s Gopeng MP Lee Boon Chye said that the project goes against the rights of the indigenous people, and would affect their livelihood.

 

“The project approval would be going against the rights of the indigenous folk…The particular lot of land is also an important water reserve for the nearby people.

“The converting of forest zones to agriculture zones would give a negative impact on the surrounding ecology," Lee said.