Pitas villagers rail against prawn project expansion
Published on: Thursday, April 28, 2016
Kota Kinabalu: Villagers from six kampongs in Pitas are riled up after learning that the company managing a prawn farm project nearby wants to expand its operation at the expense of the villagers' 1,000 acres of NCR mangrove area."About two weeks ago, we were approached by a group of people claiming to be officials from the Environment Protection Department (EPD), or a private NGO or consultants, depending on who they were interviewing."They informed us that there was to be an expansion of the existing prawn farm to a further 1,000 acres of the remaining mangrove area and wished to know if we agreed or not," said Mastupang Somoi, the chairman of an action committee tasked to bring the matter to the public's knowledge.ADVERTISEMENT He explained that for nine generations, the 2,500 indigenous people from the six villages have relied heavily on the mangroves for their food supplies and livelihood. And about four years ago, 2,300 acres of mangroves in Kg Kuyuh were destroyed to make way for the prawn farm project."Ever since the destruction of the mangroves to be converted into a prawn farm, our source of protein and other resources have depleted tremendously. Not only that, our fresh water supply had also been affected as five tributaries were blocked and diverted into the project site to water the ponds," said Somoi.The project, a joint-venture between a State Government-linked company and a private company from the peninsula, is one of the Government's projects to eradicate poverty. ADVERTISEMENT It was hoped the project which was launched in 2013 would provide 3,000 job opportunities to the people, majority of whom are in the hardcore poverty bracket.The RM1.23 billion mega-project also aimed to propel the district into the centre for food production in the State.
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Sadly, he said an inside source revealed that currently only five ponds, each about an acre, are operational and the project only employs about 40 workers, 30 of them locals while the rest are skilled foreign labour. The project is supposed to operate 1,540 ponds."We are very unhappy that they have the nerve to expand into, and thus destroy, the remaining 1,000 acres when they could not even manage what they already have. The project is a failure because even shops in Pitas and Kota Marudu do not want to buy their products because they are not fresh," he said.Somoi also lamented that while the project was supposed to improve the socio-economy of the people, it had actually made them poorer due to depletion of resources from the mangrove areas."They promised the project would bring modern infrastructure to our doorstep. But instead, the water supply never reached us but only went as far as the project area and roads remain unattended."The remaining 1,000 acres is a sensitive area that houses traditional sacred sites and must be preserved. We will protect this remaining mangrove area, and if this area is destroyed, it would also mean the death of our traditions, and our source of income," he said.Last year, he recalled, the company had encroached into the NCR land with their excavators and other heavy machineries, bent on destroying the mangroves but a resolute protest mounted by the villagers in Kg Sungai Eloi, which is one of the six villages, chased them away.Over the years, numerous letters of protest and request for interventions have been sent to the relevant government departments and agencies but all the villagers heard back was silence."We the indigenous community are not against development, but development needs to be balanced and sustainable. Many promises were made to us since 2013. But after three years of experiencing unsustainable practices of the developer, we do not agree to the expansion of this project."It has not benefitted us as a community. The company has repeatedly conducted business without following the law. When we lodged complaints against them, they merely received a slap on their wrist," he said.A representative from Kg Datong, Noridah Samad, said it is better that the 1,000 acres of mangroves be left alone and converted into a sustainable agro-tourism product because of its biodiversity. The mangrove area is home to more than 300 proboscis monkeys, numerous kinds of birds, including rare birds such as hornbills and kingfishers, and at night, the place would be lit up by fireflies."In fact, we have already started the project right now. We have dug up a well and left a tank of water for the proboscis monkeys to come and drink. We have raised awareness among the villagers not to hunt animals in the mangrove area anymore."We are currently in the middle of building shelters so visitors could come and watch the nightlife in the mangroves or even stay there if they so wished. The area has big tourism potential.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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"It is always better to preserve the environment and work with nature rather than destroy it for quick bucks," she said.The six villages are Kg Sungai Eloi, Kg Datong, Kg Telaga, Kg Gumpa, Kg Ungkup and Kg Boluuoh.