Workers at the Murum hydroelectric dam had their lives threatened by protesters who were instigated by “foreign troublemakers and anti-government NGOs”, Sarawak Energy Bhd says.

It said in a statement that the incident involved a “small” group of protesters who on Sept 28 allegedly threatenedits workers, using machetes.

This halted work on the  powerhouse and tunnel, which only resumed this afternoon.

However, in a press conference after lodging a police report against SEB this afternoon, Penan protesters said that SEB’s CEO Torstein Dale Sjotveit and police were “rough” towards the protesters and verbally abused them.

Gereng Jadum said that cops rounded up the protesters and took them to another part of Murum so that Sjotveit could yell at them.

“He took us away from our blockade area to the part near the tunnel... He was yelling angrily and was rough to us.

“He was yelling to the police, too, saying: ‘You are cowards for not stopping the Penans. They have no right to set up a blockade’.

“Then he left, leaving the Penans to walk back to the blockade area... in a sort of punishment,” Gereng said.

Gereng, who lodged the report at the Miri police station, said the distance was several kilometres and a fair distance to cover by foot, although it only took 10 minutes by car.

He also alleged that police were spotted driving to their blockade area in SEB vehicles, raising suspicion that they are working hand in glove.

“(Everything SEB says) are lies. Penans never accepted the dam...

“They are blocking our blockade, but what are they claiming from us? We are blockading to protect our property and land from being destroyed by the government,” he said of the blockade, which has lasted two weeks.

The recording of the press conference was provided to Malaysiakini by Sarawak River Networks chairperson Peter Kallang. 

Foreign instigators

Meanwhile, SEB said that the protest and alleged death threats had halted work on the  powerhouse and tunnel, which resumed this afternoon.
 
“It is disturbing to see that the poisonous influence of foreign instigators has now led to threats of violence.

“My clear message to the protesters is that foreign troublemakers and anti-government NGOs have never done anything practical to help you and they never will,” said Sjotveit.

Sjotveit  said SEB has a “good relationship” with the affected communities, including the Penan, who it claims to have resettled in programmes “the best of its kind in the world”.

SEB, he added, is open to discussions on the community’s welfare and “transition to a more secure livelihood” but “will not give in to threats”.

According to the newspaper Borneo Post, the dam, one of many in Sarawak’s pipeline, affects 353 Penan families.

Most have resettled to modern houses 40 minutes away from the dam, complete with all modern kitchens and stereo sets.

SEB also claims it provides RM850 to each family every month for subsistence.

NONEHowever, 100 families have set up a blockade near the dam site office and refuse to budge until their demands are met.

Among their demands are free houses, electricity and water, RM500,000 and 25 hectares of agricultural land per family.

They also want the government to allow each village to forage in 30,000 hectares of forest reserve, but the government has only promised 20,000 hectares.