Belaga deserves more attention, highlight community leaders
KUCHING: Community leaders in Belaga are appealing to the state government to come up with a blueprint set to transform the district into a modern and vibrant eco-tourism hub.
According to Bakun Action Committee chairman Pemanca Ajang Sirek, the time has come for Belaga to have a comprehensive development masterplan.
“As a district that produces more than 3,000MW of electricity – namely from Bakun and Murum HEPs ( hydroelectricity power plants), Belaga deserves something special that commensurate with its contribution to the overall economic spin- off from power generation,” he told The Borneo Post here yesterday.
He said the power generated from Belaga District had been instrumental in attracting billions of ringgit in foreign investments to Samalaju and areas under Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy ( SCORE), but the returns to the district – in terms of development projects – had been ‘very minimal’.
“We should not continue to be left behind – as if we’re the ‘stepchildren’. Our wishist should not be difficult to fulfil, as long as there’s genuine care and concern for us who have been very supportive of the government,” stressed Ajang.
Fellow community leader Pemanca Umek Jeno, who represents the Kayans in the area, urged the government to set up Belaga District Council in the soonest possible time.
Currently, the district still depends on Kapit District Council for funding and town planning.
“What Belaga urgently needs is to have its own independent council, so that it could plan the necessary development projects that the district needs,” he pointed out.
Additionally, Umek wished for Sungai Asap to be renamed ‘Apau Koyan’, as the current name has negative connotation among the local communities.
“We also appeal to the government to elevate the status of Apau Koyan into a district, in that it is no longer a small sub- district.”
According to Umek, among the basic necessities that Belaga still lacks are sports facilities such as a mini stadium, as well as a waterfront which has been promised to the people many times.
Moreover, he called for a stop in the town’s dependence on old generator sets; instead, it should be connected to the grid, given its contribution to the state’s power generation.
Additionally, Umek said the Mejawah-Belaga Road should be upgraded to provide locals seamless connectivity to the outside world.
“In short, we need a real
As a district that produces more than 3,000MW of electricity – namely from Bakun and Murum HEPs (hydro-electricity power plants), Belaga surely deserves something special that commensurate with its contribution to the overall economic spin-off from the power generation. Pemanca Ajang Sirek, Bakun Action Committee chairman
masterplan for Belaga town.”
In a slightly different suggestion, Kenyah community leader Pemanca Tony Kulleh proposed for Assistant Minister for River Transportation and Safety Liwan Lagang – a fellow Kenyah – to be promoted to full minister, so that he ( Liwan) could assist the government in transforming Belaga into a modern district.
“We need someone from our community to be appointed a full minister in the state cabinet so that he could do more for Belaga; not to mention, the Orang Ulu community. So we hope that our request could be considered,” he said.
Liwan is also the assemblyman for Belaga.
For the record, the last full minister from the Orang Ulu community was the late Dato Sri Joseph Balan Seling, who served under the Tun Abdul Rahman Ya’akub administration in 1970s. Before Joseph was Dato Sri Tajang Laing.
“The former ( Orang Ulu) paramount chief Temenggong Oyong Lawai Jau was one of the signatories for the Malaysian Agreement. In view of this, we hope that our community would be given due recognition across all fields,” he said.
Further, Tony believed that Belaga District could be turned into a major eco-tourism destination, in that it had beautiful lakes and islands at the two major dams there (Bakun and Murum).
“With the development of the lakes, everyone (in Belaga) could benefit as there would be many positive spin- offs from such industry ( eco-tourism) including the famous Orang Ulu handicrafts,” he said.
Tony also hoped that Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg would visit the community in Belaga to see for himself what needed to be done to improve the quality of life and welfare of those in the Orang Ulu heartland.
Meanwhile, PRS Youth Belaga chief Robert Jeno said he fully supported Liwan and Hulu Rajang MP Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong in requesting for the state government to give priority to local people to be employed in the Bakun HEP project.
Currently only 32.86 per cent or 70 individuals out of the total 213- staff workforce in Bakun are locals.
“With the acquisition of the Bakun HEP by the state government, it’s only natural for the locals be given priority in employment,” said Robert.