Indigenous communities demand seat at the table in Sarawak's new dam plans

As the Sarawak government moves forward with requests for proposals for a new series of cascading hydropower dams across five major river systems, Indigenous leaders and civil society organisations are calling for full participation in decisions that could reshape Sarawak’s rivers and communities for generations.

The proposed cascading dam programme envisions a chain of hydropower dams along the Tutoh, Belaga, Danum, Balui and Gaat river systems.

Civil society groups warn that decisions made during the feasibility study stage will determine whether Indigenous lands, rivers and livelihoods are protected – or placed at risk.

The announcement comes amid ongoing concerns about the legacy of large hydropower projects in Sarawak, where past dams have displaced thousands of Indigenous residents and flooded vast areas of forest.

“Cascading dams can still be destructive, with big adverse impacts,” said Jok Jau Evong, the Sahabat Alam Malaysia’s Sarawak coordinator. “The disruption to these vital river systems should not be underestimated. Too often communities are sidelined during early planning, only to see their rivers and forests sacrificed later.”

Sarawak already generates more electricity than it currently consumes from existing mega-dams, raising questions about the need for further hydropower expansion.

Despite this, many Indigenous communities say they have received little information about the scope of the proposed projects or their potential impacts.

“For Indigenous peoples in Sarawak, rivers are not simply resources – they are our homes, our food systems, our transportation routes and the foundation of our cultures,” said Celine Lim, the managing director of Save Rivers.

“Any study or planning process that affects these rivers must meaningfully include the people who have lived with and protected them for centuries.”

Civil society groups say the feasibility study stage is where the most important decisions about dam construction are made. They warn that if Indigenous communities are excluded from this early phase, projects can move forward long before affected villages have the opportunity to raise concerns or exercise their rights.

They emphasise that free, prior and informed consent must be upheld throughout all stages of the project. Native customary rights must be respected, transparent information must be shared, and independent social and environmental impact assessments must be conducted.

“Feasibility studies are where the most important decisions begin,” Lim added. “If Indigenous peoples are not meaningfully included at this stage, the process risks repeating the mistakes of past dam projects where communities were sidelined and their concerns ignored.”

Indigenous leaders and civil society organisations are calling on state authorities, federal agencies, financiers and project proponents to engage openly and collaboratively with affected communities to ensure that development pathways in Sarawak respect human rights, safeguard river systems and support long-term sustainability.

“These rivers are our lifelines. Decisions about them cannot be made without us,” said Ukau Lupung, a resident of Batu Bungan who lives near the Unesco Gunung Mulu National Park, an area potentially affected by the proposed new dams. – Save Rivers/Borneo Project/Keruan/SAM/Bruno Manser Fonds