| Of particular concern is Dr. Mahathir's plan to build one of the
| largest dams in the world. The Bakun Dam will inundate an area of
| primary forest the size of Singapore and displace nearly 10 000
| indigenous people. At a cost of $7.6 billion, it will generate
| 2400MW of electricity to Peninsular Malaysia via the world's
| longest submarine power cables under the South China Sea. The
| project has been highly criticised by Malaysian NGOs and
| indigenous peoples alike.
|
| The rally will also highlight the critical situation of the Penan
| tribe, one of the last tribes of nomadic hunter-gatherers in the
| world, who are still waiting for the protection of their forests
| through biosphere reserves promised to them by the Sarawak state
| government in 1991.
("Malaysia: Dr Mahathir to Australia" - from alight@peg.pegasus.oz.au
on Mon, 25 Mar 1996 at 12:49:42 GMT, also available in the NativeNet
archives (see URL above))
In order to make it easier to get an understanding of the history of
the situation of the Penan and Dayak peoples in Sarawak, I have set
up a Web page ("http://bioc02.uthscsa.edu/~gst/nl/penan-dayak.html")
which provides an index of articles on the subject that have been
posted to NATIVE-L since 1991. (Until the index can be worked over
a bit, it may contain a few links to articles not specifically on
this subject - but I think there will not be many "false positives.")
It would appear that the newspaper article quoted below represents an
attempt to discredit efforts being made by environmental activists to
bring to light the likely devastating effects of mega-projects like
the Bakun Dam on the indigenous peoples of Malaysia.
--Gary (gst@gnosys.svle.ma.us) ]
Posted by Hornbill in peg:env.dams on 2/4/96.
NOTE - Laila is of Polish immigrant background who came from Adelaide,
Australia. Looks like the same old tune is being turned out here by yet
another old timer. Yes, chop down the virgin forest, and simplistically
plant new trees in urban area to reflect pathetic attempts at being "green."
More is needed, Laila!!!
________text begins________
Greenies out to tarnish Malaysia's reputation: Laila
The Borneo Post, March 31, 1996
KUCHING, Sat.- Criticism hurled by the so-called Western environmentalists
against Malaysia's logging industry, Sarawak in particular, are not meant to
protect the environment, but more towards tarnishing the country's reputation
internationally.
Their criticism are based on manufactured stories and faked evidence, said
Chief Minister's wife Datuk Amar Puan Sri Hajah Laila Taib today.
"The activists are not well informed of the situation as they themselves have
never been to the country to see for themselves how we actually managed our
forest and carry out the logging activity," she added.
She was speaking to officiate at a mass tree planting ceremomy organised in
conjunction with the 10th Pan-Borneo Inter-Rotary Club meet hosted by Rotary
Club of Kuching at SMK Tunku ABdul Rahman at Jalan Matang near here.
The community project themed "Preserve Planet Earth" was organised on
collaboration with Kuching North City Hall (DBKU).
Laila called for greater efforts to preserve the greenery especially in
housing estates. A total of 174 trees were planted today.
_________text ends_________