By DayakDaily Team
BELAGA, April 29: A development approach rooted in genuine local community participation should be reinforced through an equity-sharing model in energy projects, including cascading dams and floating solar developments, to ensure long-term benefits are meaningfully shared with the people.
In a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) news, Murum assemblyman Kennedy Chukpai Ugon welcomed the Sarawak government’s push under the Premier’s leadership to position the energy sector as a key driver of regional economic growth.
However, he stressed that implementation must go beyond policy intent and actively involve the people at every level.
He emphasised that community participation should not be confined to consultation exercises, but must translate into tangible involvement, including equity ownership in project developments.
“As highlighted by the Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, public involvement is critical. We are not merely referring to engagement, but to real participation where people have the opportunity to own shares in development projects,” he said during an interview at the Pela Daleh ceremony held at the Murum Junction Substation in Simpang Urun today.
Drawing from international experience, Chukpai pointed to development models in Canada where indigenous communities are directly involved in cascading dam projects, which could be adapted for Sarawak.
Under such a model, local communities are offered equity stakes alongside investors, supported by government-facilitated financing.
“The government can structure financing through existing financial institutions to enable community participation in project investments. Once the loans are fully repaid, the equity stakes would be wholly owned by the community,” he explained.
He noted that this approach offers a more sustainable pathway compared to short-term corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, which often lack lasting impact.
Chukpai further proposed extending the model to emerging energy projects, including floating solar developments and cascade dams, in line with Sarawak’s ambition to become a leading energy hub in Asia.
“Had such a model been introduced earlier, communities in areas like Bakun and Murum could already be enjoying far greater returns today,” he added.
He expressed hope that the Sarawak government would give serious consideration to adopting the equity-sharing framework as part of its broader inclusive development agenda.
Also present were Deputy Minister of Telecommunication Datuk Liwan Lagang, Sarawak Energy Power chief executive officer Ir Bunyak Lunyong, Belaga District Officer Bidah Lujah, representatives from government agencies and local community leaders. — DayakDaily
