
By Tedong Rantayy
MIRI, Feb 2: Residents of Kampung Lereng Bukit have strongly opposed the proposed resettlement programme, asserting that its blanket approach is unfair and fails to consider the situation within their village.
They insist that while safety concerns must be addressed, uprooting the entire village without a proper technical assessment is not the solution.
Speaking at a press conference held in the village today, Zamir Reza Wan Salim Tuanku Talbu, representing the voice of the villagers, criticised the announcement which suggests the relocation of the entire village to designated areas.
Zamir emphasised that no prior discussions had taken place with the affected communities and that residents should not be uprooted without proper consultation.
“The suggestion that the entire village agrees to relocation is misleading,” Zamir stated.
“We are presenting a petition signed by villagers who oppose this resettlement plan. A statement made by an individual in a news report suggesting that residents were willing to (pindahkan aja kamek tok) ‘just move us’ does not reflect the majority’s stance.”
The announcement of the relocation, widely circulated by local media on Jan 31, has sparked strong reactions from local residents.
While they acknowledge the need for safety measures, they argue that a blanket evacuation is not a fair solution.
Instead, they proposed that a thorough technical study should be conducted to assess which specific areas are at risk of landslides.
The villagers suggest that the government should prioritise mitigation efforts, such as constructing retaining walls, reinforcing slopes, and improving drainage systems, instead of resorting to large-scale resettlement.
They stressed that not all of the areas at Kampung Lereng Bukit face the same level of danger.
“Only certain sections of the village are at risk. Many areas remain safe for habitation,” Zamir explained.
“We unanimously support relocating those in immediate danger but reject the forced displacement of the entire village.”
Kampung Lereng Bukit, home to approximately 600 houses and 800 villagers, has long been an established community since 1920.
Around 200 villagers, including community leader Penghulu Samad Ali, gathered at the press conference to voice their concerns.
The recent disaster on Jan 29, which claimed five lives – including a 17-year-old boy, a woman, and three girls aged between 14 and 71 – was the fourth landslide to hit Kampung Lereng Bukit in over four decades.
The first recorded landslide occurred in 1981, 43 years before the latest tragedy. The second incident struck in 2009, followed by another landslide just a week later.
Despite this history of landslides, residents maintain that complete relocation is not the most viable solution.
The villagers have called on the Sarawak government to engage in transparent discussions with affected communities before making any final decisions.
“We need an inclusive process where the voices of all residents are heard,” said Zamir. – DayakDaily