KOTA KINABALU: A community-based organisation has slammed non-governmental organisation Pantau Penampang (PP) for a misleading statement saying that NGOs welcome the controversial Papar Dam project.
Taskforce against Kaiduan Dam (Takad), formed by communities against the Kaiduan Dam (now Papar Dam), said they remained steadfast against the construction of the dam.
It said PP was inconsistent and just trying to gain popularity.
"We refer to the article on June 30 in the website Borneo Voice, where NGO Pantau Penampang aimed to confuse the people of Penampang and Papar on the issue.
"We want the chairman Jo Nandu to take back the statement.
"This NGO should know that approval for the Papar Dam project needs to undergo a strict and transparent process as it involves Special Environmental Impact Assessment (SEIA) and other surveys.
"PP, previously with Takad, has campaigned against the Kaiduan Dam construction, but based on the latest statement, it's clear they have made a U-turn, which undermines the struggles of Takad.
"PP seemed to only want to attract support for the project to be continued," said Takal spokesperson Diana Sipail.
In her statement, she questioned how PP justified its statement that the dam would not impact the environment or the security of residents in Penampang district and Papar district.
She said the state government should look into the concerns of the people and not just adopt previous plans.
The recently announced Papar Dam has received flak as environmentalists see it as just a rehash of Kaiduan Dam, which was rejected by the people due to fears of displacement and concerns over the environment.
Sabah Infrastructure Development Minister Datuk Peter Anthony, during a recent visit to the new site along Papar river near Kampung Mandoringin, said they would build the dam there.
Papar Member of Parliament Ahmad Hassan, who went to the site with Peter, commended the implementation at the location. He said the project was needed to realise the state's development programmes.
The dam was previously under the Penampang jurisdiction but is now under Papar district.
Sabah Environmental Protection Association (SEPA) president Lanash Thanda meanwhile called for a Sabah-wide Strategic Impact Assessment for water security and a multi-stakeholder roundtable that would include parties with no vested interest comprising representative of communities, relevant NGOs and government tecnical groups.
Activist Eleanor Goroh in her Facebook page, claimed that the new proposed site was in the same area proposed in 2010.
Limited time offer:
Just RM5 per month.
