The following morning, we were en route to Marudi for the Baram Regatta 80km away, by express boat – these have reinforced steel hulls, are crocodile-proof and can fit 75 passengers.
Although Long Lama is downstream of the proposed Baram Dam, there were fears that the dam would jeopardise the express boat services.
“One of the residents said he was afraid that if the Baram Dam was built, it may affect the express boat services between Long Lama and Marudi, like what happened in Kapit,” recalled Carolyn Marsh, 40.
Due to the drought, boat services between Kapit and Belaga towns were suspended after stretches of the Rajang River became too shallow to navigate. Kapit and Belaga residents claim the impoundment of the Bakun Dam had worsened the situation by diverting water from rivers to its lake.
The Baram River was also prone to fluctuating water levels according to Philip Jau Ding, 52. “From what I’ve heard, due to logging activities the river is shallow,” he said. “And according to the express boat drivers, during the dry season in 2009, the boats couldn’t reach the Long Lama jetty.”
Following strong opposition from the Orang Ulu natives – about 20,000 of them would be displaced as a result of the project, the Sarawak government put the Baram Dam on hold.
“We want to put a total stop to the dam. A great majority of the longhouses don’t want the dam,” said Jau who chairs the Baram Action Protection Committee.
Captain (R) Philip Wan Kalang, 55, disagreed.
“This is what we have been dreaming for Long San and upper Baram,” explained Captain Wan, head of communications of the People’s Volunteer Corps (RELA) from Long San to Lio Matoh. “We have been requesting this (from the government) since the 1960s to have 24-hour electricity.”