Whistle-blower website Sarawak Report has claimed that the two areas earmarked for the resettlement of 1,417 natives affected by the Murum hydroelectric dam project had been taken over by palm oil plantations.
"Maps already show that the poor quality lands that have been chosen for the two so-called resettlement zones of Tengulan and Metalun have already been taken over by oil palm plantations," it said, based on map comparison of the resettlement area published in the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) for the Murum dam project.
According to Sarawak Report, the RAP also revealed that contrary to proper procedures, the Social Impact Assessment (SIA) had only been conducted after the Murum dam project commenced.
The RAP read: "During the preparation of this SIA, no project alternatives were considered because the construction of the MDHEP (Murum Dam Hydroelectric Project) had already commenced at the time of the report writing".
Under the plan, the 353 affected Penan and Kenyah families will be allocated 14 hectares of land each and a RM850 allowance for the first two years of resettlement and RM500 for the subsequent two years.
The payments stop after that but the community may receive food support subject to monitoring by the resettlement team for the next two years or the sixth year of resettlement, states the RAP.
Native rights group Save Sarawak's Rivers Network (Save Rivers) had criticised the SIA report, which was released on Oct 11, as apublic relation exercise as the natives would have no say, with the project already 75 percent completed.
"Maps already show that the poor quality lands that have been chosen for the two so-called resettlement zones of Tengulan and Metalun have already been taken over by oil palm plantations," it said, based on map comparison of the resettlement area published in the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) for the Murum dam project.
According to Sarawak Report, the RAP also revealed that contrary to proper procedures, the Social Impact Assessment (SIA) had only been conducted after the Murum dam project commenced.
The RAP read: "During the preparation of this SIA, no project alternatives were considered because the construction of the MDHEP (Murum Dam Hydroelectric Project) had already commenced at the time of the report writing".Under the plan, the 353 affected Penan and Kenyah families will be allocated 14 hectares of land each and a RM850 allowance for the first two years of resettlement and RM500 for the subsequent two years.
The payments stop after that but the community may receive food support subject to monitoring by the resettlement team for the next two years or the sixth year of resettlement, states the RAP.
Native rights group Save Sarawak's Rivers Network (Save Rivers) had criticised the SIA report, which was released on Oct 11, as apublic relation exercise as the natives would have no say, with the project already 75 percent completed.
The report was released after Sarawak Report leaked it online on Sept 28.
Abject poverty
It also detailed the serious neglect of the community and endemic state of poverty among the affected community, finding that only 164 person or 9.5 percent of the population was literate.
Furthermore 285 of them did not have an identity card and households only have a monthly income of between RM49 to RM272.
The report states the relocation exercise as a result of the Murum Dam was an "opportunity" to improve their quality of living.
However, Sarawak Report notes that little details have been revealed about the plan that would supposedly improve their lives.
"Despite the many promises in the report, there has been no disclosure, no consultation, no training and advice, no schools, no medical care, no maternity care, no improvement of living standards and no compensation or alternative sources of income for the Penan," it said.
Murum natives opposed to the project had initiated ablockade since Sept 26 to impede the construction of the dam.
The Borneo Post had on Oct 8, quoted Belaga assemblyperson Liwan Lagang as saying the Penans had agreed to lift the blockade and end the 10-day protest, however, this was denied by local NGOs who instead stressed it is ongoing.
The natives are worried that they would suffer the same fate as their native counterparts where some 10,000 Kayans and Kenyahs were relocated to Sungai Asap to make way for the Bakun dam.
Some of those relocated had complained that basic facilities were too far away and that they were not able to carry on with their way of live as the land is infertile.
Abject poverty
It also detailed the serious neglect of the community and endemic state of poverty among the affected community, finding that only 164 person or 9.5 percent of the population was literate.Furthermore 285 of them did not have an identity card and households only have a monthly income of between RM49 to RM272.
The report states the relocation exercise as a result of the Murum Dam was an "opportunity" to improve their quality of living.
However, Sarawak Report notes that little details have been revealed about the plan that would supposedly improve their lives.
"Despite the many promises in the report, there has been no disclosure, no consultation, no training and advice, no schools, no medical care, no maternity care, no improvement of living standards and no compensation or alternative sources of income for the Penan," it said.
Murum natives opposed to the project had initiated ablockade since Sept 26 to impede the construction of the dam. The Borneo Post had on Oct 8, quoted Belaga assemblyperson Liwan Lagang as saying the Penans had agreed to lift the blockade and end the 10-day protest, however, this was denied by local NGOs who instead stressed it is ongoing.
The natives are worried that they would suffer the same fate as their native counterparts where some 10,000 Kayans and Kenyahs were relocated to Sungai Asap to make way for the Bakun dam.
Some of those relocated had complained that basic facilities were too far away and that they were not able to carry on with their way of live as the land is infertile.
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