The people of Penampang, especially those affected by the proposed Kaiduan/Ulu Papar dam project are thankful to Senator Adrian Lasimbang for continuing to raise concerns about the proposed dam at parliament Senate. Like NGOs and Pakatan and Warisan, SAPP has also campaigned against the proposed dam. SAPP’s involvement in this Kaiduan Dam debacle, later renamed Ulu Papar dam, started in 25th April 2010. The then leader of the anti Kaiduan Dam Task Force, Gundohing Nousi Giun and his committee members even presented a memorandum to Datuk Yong Teck Lee on behalf of the aggrieved villagers.
Thereafter, there were countless pledges made by many individuals but unfortunately, after the Pakatan and Warisan MP and Assemblywomen were elected and become Ministers and assistant ministers, their government approved the dam project which is a direct contradiction of their promise to stop the proposed Kaiduan dam.
The elected representatives in the Sabah Assembly from Moyog and Kapayan and the MP Datuk Darell Leiking have failed to keep their promise to object to the Kaiduan/Papar dam after they have gained political power.
Datuk Darell was a senior federal minister. The Moyog and Kapayan assemblywomen are Assistant Ministers in the Sabah cabinet. It was the Sabah government that issued the letter of intent appointing a China company to undertake the Papar dam project. This shocking development was never explained.
Since their elected YBs have betrayed their trust on this issue, as a last resort, villagers in the villages affected had to resort to legal action to resist the Kaiduan/Ulu Papar dam. We hope Senator Adrian will continue to voice his objections to the dam so that at least he will be on the right side of history.
Edward Dagul
Deputy President, SAPP
–The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the original author and do not necessarily reflect the official views and policies or position of Borneonews.net. Any content expressed by article contributors are their sole opinion.-Editor-in-Chief / BNN
