Adenan Tilts With Sarawak Report Founder In Dialogue Session

KUCHING: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem put himself in the international limelight early this week when he caught critics of the state’s forest and conservation policies off guard by engaging them in a dialogue in London.

Adenan took 15 minutes to brief the audience on the state’s logging policies, conservation of wildlife and forest reserves, and what he had achieved in his 14 months helming the state.

Among those present was one of the most vociferous critics of the state’s leaders and policies, Clare Rewcastle Brown, the founder of Sarawak Report and Radio Free Sarawak.

She challenged Adenan on the due process of his administration, which he indicated would be done differently from his predecessor’s.

“You have indicated you’d be interested in doing things a different way, perhaps from the way they have been done before. Perhaps, for example, you mentioned hydro power, which you say would be cheaper and cleaner.

“These issues, of course, are hotly debated. The question is whether in future such projects you envisage your administration going about things in a different way, which is following procedures that would involve normal engagement and normal transparency, would follow the due process as what other countries tend to put through for such a programme.

“Are you going to do things differently?” Clare asked in challenging Adenan to commit to his words.

Adenan replied, “As far as I can, yes, but don’t dispute the usefulness of dams.”

Clare insisted Adenan reply whether open debates and proper transparent negotiations would take place before constructing dams in future.

“There are pros and cons of hydro electric dams. When we have the dams all these years, we know what happen to Missouri, with the Tennesse river bank, Egypt, Zanzibar dam.

“The question is how you do it with minimum effect on the people. When you want to make omelette, you must break eggs.”

As Clare persisted in getting Adenan’s commitment on open debates and transparency, Adenan put his foot down by saying, “What are we doing now? Why am I standing before you now?”

Clare argued, “It’s a start. Due process is due process.”

Adenan shot back by saying, “Let’s make a good start, start the journey with the right foot. Ok, Clare?”

On Radio Free Sarawak, Clare asked if Adenan was prepared to listen to the broadcast.

“I am prepared to listen to every radio broadcast if what they say is based on facts and not propaganda.

“We have our own radio to give our facts. You can do the worst you can find, up to you. But we don’t. People know …that some of your basic facts are wrong, are just assumptions.”

At the sharing session, Kelabit researcher and activist Mutang Urud said he and the communities he represented were willing to work with Adenan.

“I want to commend you for your honest remarks yesterday. I am really happy you made those remarks. As we criticise the past government, you voiced it for us.

“I have nothing against your new policies, and we are willing to work with you on all those counts. We are also from the communities, and we can help to bring the voice of the community to you and to your ministry in that way.” - BP