Stop confusing people on proposed Tambatuon dam

by Agnes Liew (SAPP Supreme Councillor)

Aug 13, 2010: The disclosure by the Federal Minister of Agriculture Datuk Nor Omar, last week that there is "no stopping the Kota Belud Dam Project" that cost RM450 Million has come as a big shock to to the people of Kota Belud. Because the people of Kota Belud have all along been promised that their views will be sought and considered. How can a KL minister come and say that "there is no stopping the dam project"? Does this mean that the government has already decided to proceed with the project even before the people are consulted? Our elected representatives like Kadamaian assemblyman Datuk Herbert Timbun Lagadan has been telling the local people that they will be consulted first. Has he been lying to the people?

Herbert had tried to appease the villagers by promising to bring them to Bakun Dam in Sarawak, maybe like a joy trip. But the people were already angry. Local People in Kota Belud have already heard about the protests at Kg Kaiduan in Penampang/papar. The villagers representatives preferred instead to join the trip to Bakun organized by "Jaring Pertubuhan Keselamatan Orang Asli" last month.

When surveyors and other technicians came to Kota Belud to do site inspection at Kota Belud Kampongs and around Kampung Tambatuon last year, many local people were anxious because the local people were not told what was happening, it later became known that a massive dam is proposed to be built by the government.

On 12th August, the MP for Kota Belud Datuk Rahman Dahlan, said that the site of the proposed dam is still under study. The conflicting statements from Datuk Noh Omar, Datuk Herbert and now Datuk Rahman Dahlan have added to the confusion concerning the proposed dam at Kg. Tambatuon. Agnes MF Liewpin calls on the elected representatives to stop confusing the people. We hope that our MP Datuk Abdul Rahman will make sure that the government will listen to the objections of the people and respect the feelings of the rakyat.

SAPP will continue our efforts to bring awareness to the people on the consequences and risks of this mega dam project. On 1st August, youths at Kg Tambatuon were joined by youths from Kaiduan and from Kg. Sinakut of Tungku Lahad Datu in a Solidarity camp at Kg. Tambatuon. The Kaiduan youths were protesting the proposed Kaiduan dam. The Sinakut youths protest against the proposed coal power plant at Tungku Lahad Datu. A Memordum to protest the proposed said projects were then submitted to the Chief Minister on the next day after the Camp by the youths. SAPP will support the campaign of the youths in their peaceful opposition to the three mega projects that are detrimental to the local people.

more...SAPP: Stop forcing dam project onto the people