ID :
216013
Mon, 11/21/2011 - 08:24
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Winds Of Change For Lun Bawang, Thanks To Petronas

LAWAS (Sarawak), Nov 21 (Bernama) -- The winds of change are bringing greater development to the Lun Bawang, one of East Malaysia state of Sarawak's minority ethnic communities, thanks to the 512km Sabah-Sarawak Gas Pipeline project now underway. The US$500-million project, which spans Malaysia's two largest states by passing through this remote enclave, will pipe natural gas from the Sabah Oil and Gas Terminal (SOGT) in Kimanis to the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) complex in Bintulu. Alfred Padan, a Lun Bawang community leader, told Bernama of his role in persuading local communities to assist in implementing Malaysia's largest gas pipeline project undertaken by Petronas, the national oil corporation. "Initially, the locals were not informed about the objectives of the project and some were opposed to it. But we were soon able to dispel talk that the project would bring more hardship than benefits. "The proof is in the business opportunities that have been created and they have helped improve the livelihood of our poor farmers and their families," said Padan, 62, who is also regional manager of Samling Company, the main logging contractors in the district. He said transporting and burying the one-metre diameter onshore natural gas pipeline from Sabah to Sarawak -- 90km in Sabah and 422km in Sarawak -- was the least of the problems. Dealing with people, especially those with the contentious native customary rights (NCR) land is more complex. Once the pipeline enters Sarawak territory, the question of who owns what becomes an issue. Sarawak's Land and Survey Department was tasked to help the project's contractors to determine whether the land which the pipeline passes through belongs to the state or the dwellers. The contractors are Punj Lloyd, a reputable international group, and its consortium partners Dialog E and C Sdn Bhd and Petrosab Logistik Sdn Bhd. One of the “key” stretches is along the road from Lawas to the mountain village complex of Ba Kelalan. This 100-km stretch involves compensating families from 17 Lun Bawang villages, namely Kampung Sahabat Baru, Long Segaman, Pa Kepulu, Tangitung, Batu Mulong, Long Sebangang, Long Resina, Remirang, Long Lidong, Long Lutok, Long Sukang, Kampung Sukang, Punang Berayong, Berayong Tengah, Long Tuyo, Long Luping and Long Brunot. "This is a sensitive matter because land is always dear to the people. But somehow we managed to get around this problem by using reasoning as we knew that the Lun Bawang are a progressive community who prefer to solve problems through dialogue,” Padan said. The turning point in some of the areas was when Padan managed to convince some of the villagers to look for a happy compromise. "More than half of the villages from Sahabat Baru to Long Luping did not face many problems because most of their land was recognised as customary land. “When the pipeline reached Long Tuyo, I managed to convince individual families to allow us the right of way. They agreed when I told them we would help them build subsidiary roads, flatten land and build fish ponds and wet padi plots. It was good that they have co-operated,” said the father of seven. Lun Bawang paramount chief Temenggong Paris Kaya, 57, also spoke of the dialogue sessions between the people and the government authorities, including Member of Parliament henry Sum Agung, State Minister Awang Tengah bin Ali Hassan, former state assemblyman Nelson Balang Rining and the Limbang Resident Maria Hasman. "We have done our best to give the landowners and the people affected by the gas pipeline the best deal. Apart from payment for NCR land, we have arranged for ex-gratia payment for the fruit trees that have been removed or destroyed during the land clearing process for laying the pipelines, helped repair or prepare padi fields or improve the irrigation system and other things. "We are determined to ensure that none of our people will lose out and Punj Lloyd is well aware of this. Petronas has also implemented several corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects in the villages, such as repainting old buildings and premises, upgrading church buildings and improving the water distribution system," said Temenggong Paris, who has been at the helm of his community for the past seven years. Petronas has even supplied 60,000-gallon water tanks to the villages to store clean water. "This is the least we can do for the people and most of them are grateful for the care and effort taken," said Temenggong Paris. Since the arrival of greater development to this rural region, he said, the Lun Bawang have adapted well to the changes as a result of modernisation. Once a very poor community, the Lun Bawang can now afford to build their own bungalows in town and in the interior, own vehicles including four-wheel drives, and set up businesses and enterprises. -- BERNAMA Malaysia

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