The Batang Ai project has displaced 3,000 people from 26 longhouses, with second-generation settlers finding it difficult to find land for houses.
In Lubok Antu, which borders Indonesia, the main economic activity of its 5,000 inhabitants is farming, or shifting cultivation.
It is also the location of Sarawak’s first dam, the Batang Ai Dam. This is a concrete-faced, rock-filled dam located in the Batang Ai National Park.
Preparations for the dam began as early as 1975, before the design was published in 1977.
Construction started 1982, with river diversion work and the last turbine completed in 1985.
The Batang Ai project, a relatively modest dam, financed by the Asian Development Bank, caused the displacement of 3,000 people from 26 longhouses.
Unfortunately, their displacement remains unresolved until today.
A recent Borneo Post report quoted a local, Roland Entunggan Munang, as saying that another long-outstanding issue affecting re-settlers displaced by the Batang Ai Dam is the lack of land on which to build houses for their extended families.
“There were 22 longhouses affected by the dam.
“The second generation re-settlers are finding it difficult to find land to build their houses,” he said, urging local elected representatives to quickly resolve the issue.
William Nyallau Badak
The Lubok Antu parliamentary seat is currently held by William Nyallau Badak of PRS/Barisan Nasional (BN).
It was a SNAP stronghold from 1969 to 1982, but was taken over by PBDS after the 1986 general election.
Jawah Gerang
However, the loyalty of its Iban BN MPs has been questioned, with four-term MP Jawah Gerang being a case in point.
In 2008, Jawah was not selected by BN/PBDS to defend Lubok Antu.
The following year, Jewah switched camps to the opposition PKR and became its standard-bearer in the Batang Ai by-election.
The by-election for the state seat was called following the death of its assemblyman, Dublin Unting.
William Nyallau himself stood as an independent against BN’s Jawah in Lubok Antu in 2004 before being chosen as the BN candidate in 2008.
Sound complicated? This is Dayak politics at its “best”!
Do not be surprised if William Nyallau throws his hat into the ring as an independent as well if he is not selected to defend Lubok Antu come the 14th general election (GE14).
This seat can only be classified as “fairly safe” for BN/PRS in GE14.
The opposition performed respectably in the previous elections, obtaining 6,717 votes while BN secured 8,278.
A close fight can be expected for this seat.
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