If those jungles could speak.
If those trees could speak.
If those fishes could speak.
If those rivers could scream!
They could'nt.
But the natives could.
Damn you. Damn you! Damn you!
For all the hardships.
Ini semua Madey punya pasal.. ini semua idea karut-marut dia
Seluas-luas bumi Sarawak, licin kena tarah..
Di hulu lemas dibanjirkan, di hilir dikontang keringkan bot pun tak boleh lalu.
Where Have All the Water Gone?
We have just received a call from Daniel, a Kenyah teacher, in Belaga: “Nanga Merit, Nanga Metah, Punan Bah, SK Long Terawan, SK Nanga Merit, SK Punan Bah, Kampung Terawan … All the schools and villages below Belaga Town are cut off because the river has dried up due to the impoundment of Bakun Dam.”
“Even the engineers of Sarawak Hydro are telling us that the state government has no plan to overcome the problem because they are unlikely to stop the impoundment.”
“Please help us to highlight our problem.
The people in those settlements need food and medicine, but the water is too shallow for boats to travel,” Daniel sounded desperate.
(read more HERE)
The Mighty Rajang River Is So Not Mighty After All
On Oct 13, the impoundment of water into the controversial Bakun Dam, which is about 30 miles from Belaga, started.
Immediately after the impoundment, the water level in the Rajang and its tributaries dropped by more than 6 metres, causing river transportion in Belaga to come to a standstill during the weekend. The impoundment is expected to last seven months.(yes, seven bloody months!)
The flooding of the dam was met with resistance from environmentalists who felt that the prolonged drought would bring negative ecological consequences. The effect is showing now.
The RM7.3 billion hydro electric dam project has been called one of the most expensive white elephants(now mega tower?) in the state. It was delayed and infested with political issues. It is now up for sale with the Sarawak government as one of its main contenders.
The dam - one of South-east Asia's largest - was awarded to tycoon Ting Pek King's Ekran Bhd in early 1994 and four years later, the Federal government took control of the project.
(read more HERE)