Partners With Resettled Community in Bakun
Since 2019, Sarawak Energy has been running a programme initiated as part of its efforts to sustain the well-being of the community in the Bakun Resettlement Scheme (BRS) located in Belaga District.
The BRS Longhouse Adoption Programme is a five-year programme that spans from 2019 to 2023, with three longhouses to be adopted annually on a rotational basis.
BRS comprises 15 longhouses from the Kayan, Kenyah, Kajang and Penan communities with around 15,600 residents: Uma Kulit, Uma Belor, Uma Daro, Uma Nyaving, Uma Kelap, Uma Lahanan, Uma Bawang, Uma Balui Liko, Uma Balui Ukap, Uma Baha, Uma Badeng, Uma Juman, Uma Lesong, Uma Penan Talun and Uma Ukit.
In general, the programme covers improvements of common facilities utilised by the residents with the initiatives proposed by the communities.
These include the construction/upgrading of Village Security and Development Committee (JKKK) Office, provision of covered walkway, upgrading of sports pavilion, and improvement to church, childcare centre, football field and/or parking lots.
Total allocation for the Longhouse Adoption Programme at BRS is RM4.5 million over 5 years, which is under the broader scope of corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives Sarawak Energy has planned for the community in Bakun following its acquisition of Bakun Hydroelectric Powerplant (HEP) in 2017 from Malaysia’s Ministry of Finance.
Sarawak Energy has also developed and implemented other community-based programmes based on its CSR focus areas of education and young people; environmental management and conservation; culture and heritage; community development; and entrepreneurship.
Some key initiatives that Sarawak Energy has implemented include:
- The Annual SMK Bakun ‘Adopt a School Project’;
- Bakun Resettlement Scheme Education Fund (in partnership with Bakun Charitable Trust);
- Youth Technical Upskilling Programme;
- Youth Football Development Programme;
- Women Entrepreneurship and Skills Training Programme;
- Cataract Screening and Operation Programme;
- Partnership with Persatuan Bomba Sukarela Sungai Asap on Community Fire Safety Programme;
- Infrastructure and Amenities Improvement Projects;
- Support for Cultural Celebrations;
- Support for the ‘Tallest Tiang Belawing Tower’ entry into the Malaysia Book of Records; and
- Support of Relief Aid for Natural Disasters.
Continuous Engagement and Collaboration with the Community
At the Bakun Charitable Trust Memorandum of Understanding Signing Ceremony in January 2019, Sarawak Energy pledged to take on the Longhouse Adoption Programme that came about after consulting and receiving feedback from the resettled community in Bakun.
The programme is part of the energy developer and power utility’s ongoing support for the BRS, who were relocated from their original villages on the Balui River (upper Rejang) upstream of the dam site to make way for the Bakun HEP Project in 1998.
Following Sarawak Energy’s acquisition of the hydropower plant, the energy developer began actively engaging with community to understand their aspirations. A key issue raised was the requirement for enhanced facilities and additional infrastructure.
“As a socially responsible corporate citizen, Sarawak Energy is committed to advancing our CSR programmes to further strengthen relationships with the community, manage stakeholder expectations and maintain our social license to operate,” says the organisation in an e-mail interview with RAKAN Sarawak.
When the BRS Longhouse Adoption programme began in 2019, Uma Ukit, Uma Penan Talun and Uma Lahanan were selected as the first batch of beneficiary longhouses. All projects for these longhouses under the adoption programme were completed in 2019.
The second batch comprised Uma Lesong, Uma Badeng and Uma Bawang. As of December 2020, all projects for these longhouses under the programme were completed.
This year 2021 marks the third year of the programme implementation, with Uma Balui Ukap, Uma Balui Liko and Uma Kelap chosen as the third batch of beneficiary longhouses.
According to Sarawak Energy, apart from initiatives under the Longhouse Adoption Programme, the corporation also supports land levelling works for new graveyards and longhouse extensions annually for the resettled community.
A Community-Oriented Approach in Monitoring Project Progress
To ensure that the needs of all 15 longhouses at BRS are addressed through the Longhouse Adoption Programme, the corporation continues to obtain feedback through engagement and dialogue to produce community-oriented solutions to address challenges that residents continue to face following their resettlement 22 years prior.
Sarawak Energy works together with community representative committees, including Balui Lake Native Association (BLNA), Peng Maren-Maren Uma (PPMU) and JKKK of each longhouse, who are highly involved in determining priority projects to be carried out and making sure that these projects are implemented properly.
Most of these projects are undertaken by the JKKK themselves under gotong-royong basis; while some are awarded to local contractors via the Belaga District Office that have been tasked with implementing the procurement process in accordance with government procedures.
In terms of the project monitoring process, BLNA leads the project implementation with JKKK to ensure local participation, making certain that local contractors from the immediate area are appointed to execute the projects.
Funds from the Longhouse Adoption Programme are made payable to the appointed contractors or JKKK based on the amount allocated for each project.
A joint inspection involving BLNA, Belaga District Office, Sarawak Energy, Peng Maren-Maren Uma and JKKK of the respective longhouse then verifies the work done by authorised parties before making any progress payment.
For the monitoring process to remain transparent, the contractor or JKKK is required to produce project progress and completion report, as well as payment acknowledgment for record purposes.
In the Words of the Community
Pemanca Umek Jeno, Community Leader for Kayan Communities in Belaga
“On behalf of the community in Bakun Resettlement Scheme (BRS), I would like to extend my gratitude to Sarawak Energy for the Longhouse Adoption Programme in 2019.
“The project has brought about a lot of changes in terms of infrastructure development and uplifting of livelihood particularly among those whose longhouses have been adopted for the first batch of Longhouse Adoption Programme namely Uma Ukit, Uma Penan Talun and Uma Lahanan.”
Pemanca Tony Kulleh, Community Leader for Kenyah Communities in Belaga
“We are very thankful for the implementation of this ‘kampung angkat’ (Longhouse Adoption Programme) for all 15 longhouses in the Bakun Resettlement Scheme.
“This would help to assist the communities in Bakun Resettlement Scheme in uplifting their livelihood through this infrastructure development projects.
“Speaking in my capacity as the Balui Lake Native Association Chairman, we are hoping that more development projects of such calibre to be implemented in Bakun Resettlement Scheme and all of the longhouses to have their fair share of development in years to come.”
Dominic Minggu Magui, Headman of Uma Penan Talun
“Being one of the first batch of longhouses to be adopted for the Longhouse Adoption Programme in the year 2019, Uma Penan Talun has undergone a lot of changes.
“Our Church is now in a better condition, and our longhouse folks can attend their service as usual in a more comfortable environment. The upgraded Children Care Centre is now more conducive and safer, and we do not have to worry about leaving our children there when we are out working during the day.”
Lajang Nyipa, Headman of Uma Lahanan
“As the community leader of Uma Lahanan, I would like to record my appreciation to Sarawak Energy for the implementation of this Longhouse Adoption Programme.
“Various projects have been implemented during the first year of the Longhouse Adoption Programme at Uma Lahanan, including the upgrading works of our JKKK office, the church, the construction of a new pathway from Block B to Block E, installation of streetlights along the pathway to our longhouses, upgrading of Uma Lahanan’s sport pavilion as well as the longhouse external refurbishment works which help to beautify our longhouse compound. The environment is now more conducive and safer for the longhouse folks.”
Ngarit Lijap, Headman of Uma Ukit
“First and foremost, I would like to express my gratitude to Sarawak Energy for a job well done in the implementation of the Longhouse Adoption Programme. We are delighted to be selected as the first batch of the Longhouse Adoption Programme in year 2019.
“The changes in terms of infrastructure development that we have now is obvious and significant! Our churches are more equipped, and it gives the church goers a more comfortable environment to attend service.
“The youths are able to spend their afternoon playing sports at the newly refurbished football field/sport pavilion. The issue of limited parking spots for the longhouse folks is no longer a problem for us as we have plenty of space for them to park their cars/motorcycles. Thank you, Sarawak Energy!”
