The state cabinet is set to discuss growing opposition to the proposed RM2.8bil Kai-duan water dam at Ulu Papar bordering Penampang.
Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman said he would be briefed by his deputy Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan who is also state Infra-structure Minister on plans for the dam.
“We will discuss it in Cabinet (but) I need a briefing,” Musa said after launching the Sabah leg of the Barisan Nasional Youth Job Fair 2011.
On claims that the affected villagers wanted to be briefed about the project, he said the opposition groups were taking advantage of the project and were creating misleading views.
However, he said the Cabinet would look at the issues raised by the affected villagers on the proposed dam.
Earlier this month, Pairin said the dam was necessary to meet Sabah’s water needs beyond 2015 and people should not look at the proposal negatively as it was for the benefit of people.
The dam was to supply water to the districts of Kota Kinabalu, Tuaran, Penampang, Putatan and Papar up to 2050 but there were concerns that the project would affect the ecosystem of the Papar river and the Tagal system (a community-based fisheries management system) initiated by several villages along the river.
The proposed dam is said to involve four villages comprising 22 houses and between 250 and 300 people.
However, the Sabah Environ-mental Protection Association, opposition parties and local Penampang leaders are against the construction of the dam on grounds of environmental conservation and its impact on the livelihood of those affected.
On DAP’s call for the state to scrap the RM388mil state administrative complex building project as it was a waste of funds, Musa said the project was needed and would go ahead.
