Choice we make
"Why I refuse to move to sungai Asap"

MR. NGAJANG MIDIN was born in 1962. He belongs to the Ukit ethnic group from Long Ayak, Belaga, who were among the natives affected by Bakun Hydroelec-tric Project in upstream Balui. (The Ukit is the smallest ethnic group in Sarawak and a subgroup of the Orang Ulu [Upstream Peoples].)
Mr. Ngajang company. Unlike most urban dwellers, Mr. Ngajang has made at least two very interesting choices in life. The first is his choice of returning to his ancestral home in Long Ayak to farm and live his life. The second is his refusal to move to Sungai Asap, the Bakun Resettlement Scheme.
This interview conducted during the Bujang Berani Festival 2000 in Long Lawen, Sungai Tekulang, revolves around these two interesting choices.
Presently, Ngajang is still residing in his home in Long Ayak with four other families. He is currently divorced, takes good care of himself because he "has to take care of his sisters". Fluent in several native, Malay and English languages, he is an articulate speaker who speaks his mind courageously and is able to crack sudden, impulsive jokes in between serious conversations on ethnic identity, adat and Sarawak politics. He finds the idea of West Malaysians needing to use passports to enter Sarawak as plain ridiculous.

How many families are there now in Long Ayak?
In Uma Ukit, Long Ayak, there are 5 families that remain. Before the move, there were 28 families.

Why did you refuse to move to Asap?
The reasons I didn't want to move to Asap? There are many. Firstly, there are many matters concerning my properties that have not been settled by the Government yet. The Land and Survey Department came and assessed our properties, but they would not pay us, unless we move to Asap. Secondly, I am not convinced of a good future there. Asap doesn't guarantee me a good future. Therefore, I refuse to move there.

What was your perception of the choice of Asap before the people moved?
Before the Government made us move to Asap, I have already known and thought about it and I was 100% convinced that I would somehow end up returning to my old home in Long Ayak, if I moved to Sg. Asap.
The compensation land is only 3 acres for each family. If the land happens to be made of sand, that's it - end of story, it is yours, you cannot do anything about that. This is something that I fear. I have predicted this back then.
So this is why I flatly refused to move there.

Why did other people move to Asap then?
The people from my longhouse moved because our wakil rakyat said that, prior to the move, in Asap, the wild boar would come to you, by itself; the fish too. They probably thought that that would be good and perhaps that was why they decided to move. When they had finally arrived there, they discovered that not only the wild boar would not be coming their way on its own; there was no wild boar around at all. If there is wild boar, it comes with the people who sell it. No money, no wild boar meat.
These talks are only propaganda.
Now they are regretting their decision of moving to Asap. Now they are asking for my help, asking me to bring them home. I will help them still.

How is the rest of your community doing in Asap? Are they happy?
The condition of my community in Asap, they are crying. In the beginning, they were laughing, now they are crying. Why? Because they have no money left to pay the electricity bills. There are no jobs. According to the Government's promises back then, there would be factories and oil palm plantation schemes. And each head of family would be receiving allowance. Now they are nothing more than empty promises. I really feel sorry for my people.

When you say the Government's promises, who do you mean by the Government? Who came over and made these promises?
The District Officer came, the Member of Parliament came. They said if we moved to Asap, we would not have to depend on farming that much. But I believe, anywhere they live, humans would have to farm.

For yourself, do you think that farming as a way of life, suits you better rather than being employed as a worker?
I have always believed that it is always better for me to farm rather than being an employee with a salary. I believe paid work doesn't secure your future that much. If I work and get paid, while incurring debts excessively, this means that I actually have no salary. However if you farm on your own - you will be your own manager, you will be your own labourer and you will be your own boss. If you are employed, somebody else is the boss. Thus, I have chosen not to be employed any longer. In fact, I don't even think the people in Asap are all employed.

Do you have anything else to say about Asap?
I am troubled by the fact that my people have moved to Asap. The reason for this is, their state of being now, is really depressing. All the promises made by the Government back then, from allowances to free housing to loan assistance, they were never in black and white. Even today the grants for their 3-acre compensation land have not been given to them.
They claimed there would be free services. The Government people came to Uma Ukit in Long Ayak then and said that you would lose out if you do not move, housing would be free then. Electricity would be free, I heard this myself. Water too. The longhouses would be of a high standard.
When I finally reached there, there was no question about their standard. They were downright ugly. Our longhouse in Long Ayak is even more beautiful than the homes of my relatives in Asap. I am really sickened by this resettlement project. Because I have seen its results with my two eyes. They are nothing but empty promises.

Do you agree with the suggestion that says Bakun is built for the development and prosperity of the people?
I do not agree with the notion that claims "when Bakun Hydroelectric Project is built, the people will be able to benefit from it." I disagree because, when the Hydro Project is finally completed, those who would make a fortune out of it would be outsiders. They would be people with titles. The ordinary people will not benefit from it greatly. Even now, the people are crying. How can you even say that when Hydro Bakun is completed, we would benefit from it? It sounds more like a death knell to me. Yes, death is more likely.
That is one of the flaws of Hydro Bakun. Only people in the upper crust will make a fortune out of it. The local communities, the natives, will benefit nothing from it. This is my opinion.

Can you elaborate on how the people were on the day they were moving?
When they were moving, after believing all the promises made by the Government, the Ukit was the first community to move to Asap. Some were crying, they told me that they did not want to move. Some were happy, they wanted to move. But it amazes me that now they are all crying. It is illogical isn't it, at first they were laughing, now they are crying? When you get reactions like those, it simply means that that the people feel they have been cheated. By way of sweet promises.

Were there threats to induce the people to move to Asap?
We were told that if we did not move, compensation for our houses in Balui would not be delivered. The people feared this. They also said that if we did not move, the grant for the 3-acre compensation land in Asap would not be given to them. This, they feared even more. But now, they yet have to receive their grants for their compensation land in Asap. By right, the grants should have been given to them the moment they arrived.
To me it is as if my community there is still living on borrowed land. They are still borrowing from the Government. So long they have not received their land grants, technically, the Government can still legally ask them to move away.
Even their new longhouses do not even have the Certificate of Fitness. There is no letter that can officially confirm the safety of the Ukit who stay there. If the house collapses, then the Ukit will die. What kind of law is this?

Are you not afraid defying the wishes of the authorities?
To me, now, this is an era of democracy. If people come over, then they tell me that if you don't move, we'll do this and that, if you move, we'll do this and that, I don't think I should be afraid. Each person must stick to his or her own principles. For these reasons, I don't worry about what might happen to me.

Are the people aware, or you yourself for that matter, pertaining to the fact that a State-commissioned study has advised that the Balui natives need not move away from their ancestral area for the purposes of the dams?
The study recommends that you can just move to higher grounds when the dam is completed.
There was a friend of mine who suggested that too. I did discuss it with my community. If the Government could settle all compensation payments, please, let us remain here. We will wait and see the water level after the completion of the dam, and we will just move up slightly higher.
But the people really believed the Government's sweet promises. If I were to scold them then, it would have been wrong. If I advised them against moving to Asap, it would still be wrong. Let them go first, I thought. Let them see for themselves. When they reach there, they will know. Now the people are confused, it's like having a bad taste in the mouth - too bitter to be swallowed but they cannot afford to throw up. Now, they come to Ngajang and ask help from him. Now I am confused. Why don't they try asking the Government to help them, the Government who had moved them to Asap?
I told them, "I would bring you back home to Long Ayak. I promise. That is why now I have to return first and build large boats for you with their engines ready too." I can use those to bring them home. If the Government wants to take actions against me, it is up to them. They have the option of coming over to discuss things with us. If they want the Ukit to remain in Asap and obey their orders, then please give them salt, ajinomoto and their monthly supply of rice. Like the way I have been giving them my rice.
If I visit the people there, they would be asking for money from me, do you know that? They need to borrow money to buy salt and ajinimoto. To settle the electric bills. Sometimes I just feel so sorry for them; I would be left with no choice.

Now what is it like staying in Long Ayak with only five families around?
It has been very pleasant. Although I feel a little lonely, I can still see the kenyalang bird, I can still find fish easily, I can still find wild boar easily. I can still find money. So, I suppose I can still feel a bit happy about that.

Do you think it is better to live in towns rather than where you are staying now?
If we stay in a town, yes, there are a lot of facilities. A lot of development. Some-times, for those who understand things a certain way, this may be correct. But for the people in the upstream areas to simply change our ways and live in towns, this we cannot do. We are ingrained with the ways of our home. The moment children of town dwellers are delivered, they will learn the laws of the town. But this is not so for us here. That is why I feel to change we require a long period of time.
And besides, if the towns have development, how come Asap is left behind? It is a township after all. Youngsters have been dropping out of school. Back in Balui, there were kids who actually made it to universities. Although they were raised in the interior, not in a town like Asap. The difference is just too contrasting. What is the use of moving if this is what that is happening?

Some parties say refusing to move to Asap is not a progressive decision. They are of the opinion that rural-living in the villages upstream is not a good choice.
I disagree with such opinions. These people, they have never lived in upstream areas. That is why they could say that if you remain here, you would not advance. But for me, those who have chosen to remain here here are in fact more advanced than those who have moved. Why? This is because progress is about co-operating with each other. When you move to Asap, you will cease to respect your leaders, you will cease to co-operate with each other, you and yourself, me and myself. This will disunite all of us. In fact loving families have broken up disagreeing over this move to Asap. The children would have to attend school and all... (note: the authorities closed down the schools and clinics in their area in order to make them move to Asap). I think we have more progress in Long Ayak than in Asap.

Encik Ngajang, you have had a good education, you have had a well paying job, but you made a choice to return to Long Ayak to farm. Why didn't you just remain in the town and live a comfortable, urban life then? Why did you return home?
The reason I don't want to remain in the town is simply because I do what my heart tells me to. I am an Orang Ulu, I have to defend my rights in Ulu. How can I ever be white? My hair is black, it is not blond. There is no use for me to remain in the town. When I was growing up, I was attending school in the town, now to remain there, I simply cannot. Our home and land must be protected. That is why I am back home. I am an Orang Ulu. I will always be Orang Ulu. I want to be self-employed. I want to do things my way and find this way myself.