Baru disappointed with Masing’s statement on Baram road

KUCHING: State Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) chairmen Baru Bian says he is extremely disappointed with the `No Dam, No Road’ statement by Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar James Jemut Masing that was reported in the Borneo Post yesterday.

Baru who is also Bakelalan assemblyman said in a press statement yesterday stated Masing’s statement contradicted the late Chief Minister of Sarawak Adenan Satem’s statement in May last year when he was reported by Channel News Asia as saying. “The reason (for scrapping the dam) is that I have examined the matter. There’s no need to have another big dam. We can have mini dams and so on, but not a big dam especially when we don’t supply (power) to west Malaysia anymore.”

“Secondly, this statement by Masing displays a warped rationale that should be a concern to all right-thinking Sarawakians. Why should the people of Baram have to give up their homes and lands in order to have a road? Does this mean that every community that requests a basic amenity such as a school or a clinic from the government must sacrifice something? A government should look after the people’s needs, not engage in bartering and deal making, ”he said.

Baru added that Masing’s statement is morally wrong as was his excuse about the “complexity and difficulty to just build expensive roads to cater for a few longhouses only” is also unacceptable and incorrect. Why should the people of Baram be discriminated against in the provision of a road, and on top of that be so dismissively treated and told to sacrifice their lands?.”

“The fact of the matter was that an allocation was already made for the road under the 10th Malaysia plan. By diverting the RM700mil approved by the Federal government, the State government is effectively punishing the Baram community for protecting their lands.”

Baru said that he had brought up the matter twice before that development of an area should not be conditional upon the building of dams or some other sacrifice by the people. At the very least, the people have the right to proper roads so that the towns nearby are easily accessible, and they are able to avail themselves of the facilities in the towns.

He added that if the government builds proper roads for the rural areas, agricultural and economic activities would become economically rewarding and trade would flourish. In places like Baram, proper road infrastructure would enable tourism to become a gamechanger for the people.

“Ministers should not make excuses for the failure of the government and more importantly, they should not engage in blackmail of the rakyat,” he said through the statement.