The proposed Baram Dam has the capacity to generate 1,000MW of electricity.
“Diesel is very expensive,” he continued. “In Miri, household electricity costs RM200 a month, whereas in Long San each household has to spend RM500 each month to run their own generators.”
But Long San, with a population of about 4,000 people is one of the villages that may be affected by the proposed Baram Dam.
“At the moment, the Sarawak government’s experts are doing the survey,” said Captain Wan. “We don’t know if Long San is (going to be) underwater.”
And if it is, Captain Wan proposed to move the entire village to higher ground.
“We don’t want to stay in one place together like (Sungai) Asap,” he said of the resettlement area for natives displaced by the Bakun Dam. “We want the government to (relocate) all schools and airport to higher ground. Same area, higher elevation. We don’t know if it can be done or not. Let the government survey it first.”
At Marudi Town Square, Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud told the 10,000 strong crowd at the 1Malaysia Cultural Night that the feasibility study of the dam was almost near completion.
“The development of Baram hydroelectricity project will develop the potential of Baram, which is still considered an underdeveloped region, to become more prosperous and progressive in future,” Taib promised.
But will development come at the cost of submerging native culture?
“We have been living in the Baram for hundreds of years,” said Jau. “We have evidence, attached emotional importance to our cemeteries, historical sites like the fort at Long Akah.”
While most of the expedition members feel Baram Dam should not be built, a few of them were more pragmatic.
“To talk about saving culture is not realistic,” said Kang Ching Hong, 43. “It’s going to happen, dam or no dam. Most importantly, if the dam happens, make sure there are proper programmes to assimilate the natives into society, provide them with employment and treat them well.”
Seow believed that the river expedition was successful in some ways.
“I think we can say that the primary objective of seeking the views of the local people about the dam and observing the changes were achieved,” he noted.