Civil society organisations, affected communities seek open engagement on Sarawak’s proposed cascading hydropower dams

KUCHING (March 12): Civil society organisations and affected communities are calling for full participation in decisions involving the Sarawak government’s proposed cascading hydropower dams.

In a joint statement, Save Rivers, The Borneo Project, Keruan Organisation, Sahabat Alam Malaysia, and Bruno Manser Fonds said this follows the state’s requests for proposals for the new series of cascading dams across five river systems.

According to the organisations, the proposed programme involves a chain of hydropower dams along the Tutoh, Belaga, Danum, Balui, and Gaat river systems.

They said decisions made during the feasibility study stage will determine whether indigenous lands, rivers, and livelihoods are protected or placed at risk.

“The announcement comes amid ongoing concerns about the legacy of large hydropower projects in Sarawak, where past dams have displaced thousands of indigenous residents and flooded vast areas of forest,” the organisations said.

They claimed many indigenous communities have received little information about the scope of the proposed projects or their potential impacts.

Sahabat Alam Malaysia Sarawak coordinator Jok Jau Evong claimed cascading dams can still be destructive.

“The disruption to these vital river systems should not be underestimated. Too often communities are sidelined during early planning, only to see their rivers and forests sacrificed later,” he said.

Save Rivers managing director Celine Lim said: “For indigenous peoples in Sarawak, rivers are not simply resources — they are our homes, our food systems, our transportation routes and the foundation of our cultures.

“Any study or planning process that affects these rivers must meaningfully include the people who have lived with and protected them for centuries.”

Ukau Lupung, a Batu Bungan resident who lives near the Unesco Gunung Mulu National Park added: “These rivers are our lifelines. Decisions about them cannot be made without us.”

According to the civil society groups, if affected communities are excluded from the feasibility study stage, projects might move forward long before affected villages could raise concerns or exercise their rights.

They called for free, prior, and informed consent to be upheld throughout all stages of the project.

“Native Customary Rights must be respected, transparent information must be shared, and independent social and environmental impact assessments must be conducted,” added the organisations.