Mana Pi Hasil Bumi, Balak Dan Minyak Sarawak Buat Mereka Ini

Raja Berooke, Najib, Umno dan RTM sila jawab...



This documentary series is reporting on social impact faced by more than 10,000 natives of Belaga area, who were forced to be relocated to Sungai Asap and Sungai Koyan area in 1998, to give way to the Bakun Dam construction. (producer : Chou Z Lam)

English translation for the Part 4 of the Bakun Dam RTM Documentary (translator : syamdive)

Before the dam was built there were 15 longhouses and 8 primary school in Hulu Sungai Balui. In 1998 about 10,000 residents were moved downstream from the dam in an area between Sungai Asap & Sungai Koyan. There are only two primary schools in this area and the problem of children dropping out of school is increasing.

Part 4: Dropping Out of School in the Resettlement Area

Uma Penan Talun in Sg Asap is a longhouse for the Penan people. This longhouse has 20 units, 46 families and 318 residents. A lot of the Penan children here do not go to school.

Interviewer: "How do you go to school? By walking or by car?"

Boy: "Some walking and some by car"

Interviewer" "What is your name?"

Girl: "Helen"

The Penan girl that answered the question with tears is called Helen. When she was 1 years old she followed her parents when they moved from Hulu Bakun to here. This year Helen should be in Form 1 but because her parents couldn't afford to pay her fare to school she only studied for one month. Since the Penans moved here the Penan kids must use a car to get to school since it's far away. A lot of kids dropped out of school due to parents not being able to afford the fare to school.

Woman: "The fare to the secondary school is RM70 a month and to the primary school is RM35. There have been a few months when the kids didn't go to school since there was no money for the fare. For example in January they were in school, but for February & March they just stay at home."

Intan Kutut is a mother to 8 children. She could only afford to send only 2 of them to school, the rest either stays at home or help the neighbors with their farming. More video clip here