The state government spends an average of RM1.2 million per household for those affected by the Murum hydroelectric power (HEP) dam project… said Sarawak Public Utilities Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.
He said, despite the unreasonable and illogical demands put forward by a very small group of those affected, their resettlement programme was planned and implemented in a proper manner.
They were consulted on the site of the re-settlement, design of the longhouses and the amenities to be provided, he added.
“All these were made based on their choices and suggestions. Therefore, it is unbecoming to allege that the affected communities were never consulted,” Awang Tengah said
Perhaps it is time that the expenses of Awang Tengah’s office were taken out of his salary, since that appears to be his logic?
The people of Murum did not ask to be moved; they do not wish to be moved and they stand to get no benefit from the building of the dam. The profits from that are already going to the Chief Minister’s family.
So, do not pull sweeping figures out of the air to give the impression that the Penan are getting great wealth and benefits, just because the state government may or may not (who knows without proper transparency?) have spent money on roads and buildings.
These are the incidental costs of building billion dollar mega-dams, they are not costs to be blamed on the Penan, who have been offered a mere RM850 a month, which they have been told will now be down-graded to RM250 after “goods in kind” have been provided by kind SEB.
So, please stop abusing the Penan and start running this state government in a proper and professional manner!