Why sacrifice Penampang for another dam construction, asks former rep

 By Olivia Miwil - January 6, 2021 @ 11:24am

NSTP file pic. (For illustration purposes only)

PENAMPANG: A Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) leader and former Moyog assemblyman has objected to a proposal to build a second dam in the Penampang constituency.

Terrence Siambun said the project would have a negative impact on Penampang's largest green lung, that the burden of building water supply infrastructure should not be placed only on Moyog constituency.

Terrence said Moyog currently supplied treated water to hundreds of thousands of users everyday via the Babagon dam and Kasigui Water Treatment Plant.

"Moyog cannot continuously make sacrifices for others by allowing the second mega dam to be built at Penampang's largest green lung.

"Building another dam in Moyog goes beyond the normal argument about the environment.

"This is about a small constituency that has been trampled on and squeezed over and over again until it no longer has the land mass that it can be proud of," said Terrence, who is Warisan treasurer-general in a statement.

He added that other districts should have shared the burden on supplying water for the people.

Terrence was Moyog assemblyman from 2013 to 2018. He headed Project BANTAH, which had objected the matter since the project was refered to as the Kaiduan dam.

He managed to collect thousands of signatures during a petition drive held in late 2013 and early 2014. He was known for exchanging tirades about the Kaiduan dam matter at that time with then Sabah Works Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan.

"If the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah-led state government is still adamant to proceed with the proposal, then Warisan together with its allies will do everything it can to stop it."

Terrence was responding to an announcement made by Sabah Works Minister Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin yesterday who confirmed that a second dam is going to be built in Penampang.

Bung had said the proposed dam is to replace this controversial dam project in Papar, which is neighbouring Penampang, which had been mooted during the previous Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan)-led state government.

Bung said the dam in Penampang will be able to supply water up to 85 years instead of the 60-year water supply projection if it is built in Papar.

However, the project will be subjected Environmental Impact Assessment reports from the authorities.