The Atlantis

The Atlantis

The Bengoh Dam Project that worth RM 310 million has now gone in-depth in term of research process and it will be started next year. I managed to take few pictures of the villages that will be re-located to Rural Growth Centre (RGC), namely Kampung Tun Abdul Razak from bidayuh.info. Kampung Rejoi, Sait, Semban, and Sain will be re-located to a territory around Skio and Bau. Sarawak’s Chief Minister, Taib Mahmud had named this settlement as Kampung Tun Abdul Razak as a remembrance to Tun Abdul Razak in his efforts to bring unity among different races. This is aligned to the opening of the natives’ new village at Kuala Kubu Bharu on 3^rd November 1967. Accordingly, Kampung Tun Abdul Razak should be opened officially on the coming 3^rd November 2008.

However, this identity had brought confusion to the Bidayuh community as Tun Abdul Razak is an unfamiliar name to them and their identity. In this website, the writer had stated his concern over the Bidayuh’s self-identity and ancestral land. Nevertheless, the majority Bidayuh leders which are with Barisan Nasional, had conferred their 101% support to this suggestion, as it has been their fright to say ‘No’ to the CM.

Tebedu State Council’s, Michael Manyin had affirmed that the project’s effects will involve only physical changes (population shift) and all other anxieties should be set aside as all this while, the State Government had put Bidayuh’s welfare in first place of state’s agenda.

Bidayuh Extreme Engineering: Bamboo Bridge

Other leaders had blindly agreed with CM’s decision and this is a coalition to destroy Bidayuh’s dignity and traditions. The Community is Born in The Borneo Post had shown some Bidayuh leaders allied to demolish Siat, Rejoi, Sain, and Semban. Is this a less brilliant attempt by the leaders in preserving the originality of Bidayuh identity?

A Community is Dead

Compensation ranged around RM 10,000 to RM 20,000 is not enough to start a new life at Skio even though the land will be explored. Comparing it to the new settlement of the natives in Pahang and Perak, it is not an assurance to unity as what Bidayuh leaders dreamt of, though church, school, clinic, and other amenities will be built there. Despite the much opposition from Bidayuh community, James Dawos Mamit (Mambong’s MP) is obstinate with his stand to support CM’s decision. As Mambong’s representatives, he should have listened to people’s suggestions and ideas about the new settlement.

The Last Fellowship of The Aborigines

Rejoi, Semban, Sait, and Sain will become the Atlantis City once the dam is completed. Will this Atlantis be another Bidayuh political agenda as how Plato used Atlantis as political theory during Trojan Horse period. This is the effect that the Bidayuh always get when development is given to them. They need to pay high price to government beneficial projects.

More details about Bidayuh Atlantis...

One, Two, Three

All pictures are the courtesy of Si-Mong at http://www.bidayuh.info