A delegation of Sarawak natives will be lobbying the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila to decline a loan to Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB), said international NGO Bruno Manser Fonds (BMF).

 

In a statement yesterday, the group said the delegation will be armed with a report alleging that SEB did not adequately consult the affected communities on what the US$45 million (RM163.4 million) loan is meant for before commencing the project.

 

The report, it claimed, is a result of a fact-finding mission by several NGOs of those affected by the project, which is the Mombong-West Kalimantan section of the Trans-Borneo Power Grid.

 

"We urge the ADB to immediately withdraw the proposal to offer SEB a loan to build the Trans-Borneo Grid in Malaysia. Basic requirements a company should meet to obtain a loan from the ADB have already been flouted.

 

“The ADB should now avoid engaging with SEB until there is irrefutable evidence that remedial actions have been taken to comply with the Malaysian Constitution, international agreements to which Malaysia is signatory and the Bank’s own safeguard standards,” Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (Joas) president Thomas Jalong was quoted as saying in the statement.

 

He said based on discussions with Bidayuh and Iban landowners, SEB had clearly did not obtain “free, prior and informed consent” nor held meaningful consultation sessions before commencing the project.

 

Apart from Joas, other groups submitting the report are Save Sarawak Rivers Network, Suara Rakyat Malaysia, Asian Indigenous Peoples Pact, International Rivers and BFM.

 

Natives to meet bank officials

 

According to the BMF statement, the delegation will be meeting ADB’s executive directors, the bank’s Office of Anti-Corruption and Integrity, and other senior personnel.

 

However, it did not specify when the meetings would take place.

 

Meanwhile, Save Sarawak Rivers Network researcher Caroline Nyurang said the response from the fact-finding mission was one of “uniform disappointment and indignation” from the locals toward SEB.

 

“Good faith negotiations had simply not occurred. Adequate compensation for destroyed fruit trees has not been offered; there has not been any compensation whatsoever for land acquisition.

“Adding to peoples’ frustrations was they did not know how to have their grievances effectively addressed,” she said.

 

Malaysiakini has contacted SEB regarding the allegations and is awaiting a response.