Sarawak state bans gambling<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia's eastern Sarawak state has
\nbanned all forms of gambling in a district to protect landowners
\nexpected to become \"instant millionaires\" thanks to the Bakun dam
\nproject, news reports said yesterday.<\/p>\n
Some 9,500 villagers from 1,600 villages affected in a dam
\nproject would receive compensation of 300 million ringgit
\n(US$115.4 million) from developer Bakun Hydro-Electric Corp. by
\nthe end of the year.<\/p>\n
Sarawak state tourism minister and Bakun resettlement
\ncommittee chairman James Masing said the ban on gambling,
\nespecially cock-fighting, was aimed at preventing people in the
\nBelaga district from throwing away their money.<\/p>\n
The government had asked local trust funds to be stationed in
\nBelaga when the compensation is paid out to help the people
\ninvest them properly, Masing said.<\/p>\n
\"We want to make sure that they make use of their compensation
\nmoney wisely,\" he was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times
\nnewspaper.<\/p>\n
The initial payment of 30 percent, or 90 million ringgit, will
\nbe made this month, and the remainder in stages until December.
\nMasing cited an example in the 1970s when a large number of
\nvillagers in another local district became instant millionaires
\nunder a resettlement scheme to make way for a dam construction.<\/p>\n
The lack of proper guidance from the government and the
\npeople's failure to invest their new-found wealth wisely, led
\nthem to eventually lose their money and return to poverty, he
\nadded.<\/p>\n
The $5.44-billion project, which has triggered protests from
\nenvironmental and other groups, will flood an area the size of
\nSingapore when it is completed.<\/p>\n
The dam is due to begin commercial operation in 2003 with
\nproduction capacity eventually expected to reach 2,400 megawatts.
\nEkran Bhd., which holds 32 percent equity in Bakun Hydro-
\nElectric, had recently revealed that the project was facing a
\nfunding problem involving a contract signed with Swedish engineer
\nAsea Brown Boveri AG (ABB).<\/p>\n
Ekran is currently seeking to amend the clause in the contract
\nto ensure that any cost overruns are directly borne by the
\nconsortium made up of ABB and Companhia Brasileira de Projectos e
\nObras of Brazil.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad had said the government may
\nintervene in the dam project if Ekran failed to resolve its row
\nwith the ABB consortium.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sarawak-state-bans-gambling-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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