On Today Show
— Special Randau
— Gabriel Atong, Resident of Punan Ba Longhouse, Belaga – Electricity Woes in Punan Ba: Questioning Sarawak's Allocation
— Nur Mohd Syafiq Dendi Abdullah, Chairman of the Customary Land JKOAK – Harvesting Destruction: Logging's Impact on Forest Ecosystems

【FORUM：COMMUNITY VOICE】
—Nekodemus Singai, activist from Sebauh Gedong – Who else but us, if not now, then when?
— Stem Liau, activist from Bakun – Resettlement Scheme Failures: Voices from Bakun and Murum


Topik Pada Hari Ini
— Randau Khas
— Gabriel Atong, Penduduk Rumah Panjang Punan, Belaga – Masalah Elektrik di Punan Ba: Mempersoalkan Peruntukan Sarawak
— Nur Mohd Syafiq Dendi Abdullah, Pengerusi Tanah Adat JKOAK – Pemusnahan Hasil: Impak Penebangan ke atas Ekosistem Hutan
【FORUM: SUARA KOMUNITI】
— Nekodemus Singai, aktivis dari Sebauh Gedong – Siapa lagi kalau bukan kita, kalau bukan sekarang, bila lagi?
— Stem Liau, aktivis dari Bakun – Kegagalan Skim Pemindahan Semula: Suara dari Bakun dan Murum

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Gabriel Atong, Resident of Punan Ba Longhouse, Belaga
*Electricity Woes in Punan Ba: Questioning Sarawak's Allocation*
Punan Ba Longhouse is located approximately 50 km from the Bakun Dam. Gabriel attended the Community Voice Forum organized by RFS on June 29 and 30, 2024, in Miri. During the forum, Gabriel mentioned that his village, Punan Ba, is only about 42 km from the Bakun Dam but is not connected to the national grid by the Sarawak government and SEB. Punan Ba relies on a solar hybrid system for electricity supply, but residents often experience power outages because the solar hybrid system frequently breaks down.
Two days later, on July 1, 2024, Deputy Prime Minister Zahid visited Punan Ba and announced a RM4.2 million allocation to replace the often problematic solar hybrid batteries in Punan Ba. According to media reports, solar hybrid batteries need to be replaced every seven years. Gabriel is puzzled as to why the Sarawak government has not connected Punan Ba and the longhouses downstream of Bakun to the national grid, so as not to waste public funds on the costly maintenance and replacement of solar hybrid batteries. Connecting us to the national grid would benefit not only Punan Ba but also all villages, including the health clinic and primary school along the Rajang River, said Gabriel.
Moreover, SEB is a wholly state-owned company, and the Sarawak government has announced reserves of up to RM40 billion. My question is why are we still relying on federal assistance. Gabriel believes that this decision is to secure contracts and projects for GPS cronies. And indeed, during Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi's visit, contractors hoping for contracts from GPS gathered in large numbers to welcome Zahid Hamidi.
During this visit, Zahid also approved an allocation of RM21 million for the construction of a water treatment plant in Belaga, the construction of a 20 km road connecting Punan Ba to Bintulu, the installation of street lights in Belaga, and the upgrading of KEMAS offices and preschools under the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW). All these allocations will be requested in the 2025 budget.
Punan Ba Longhouse is the longhouse of the wife of Hulu Rajang MP, Wilson Ugak Kumbong, who is currently the Deputy Minister of Digital Malaysia.

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