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SALLY WONG LENG KING
Our Father in Heaven,
Why my heart feel so heavy? I heard the mountains that I can view every day has been identified to be quarried. Heard Peter Nansian has the licence to the mountain. Lord, my husband said: Who is here to have the licence to take the mountain from Kampung Sikog/Simboh?
Lord, we are living in a valley. My late father-in-law told me that Simboh means valley and the mountains surrounding us are the people’s protection from disasters. Lord, I drove around Mambong area and pitied the villagers who are still staying near the CMS clinker. They are breathing in pollutants. They are hearing frequent blasts. Sometimes, when I am in the village, I could hear the blast too. Though kampung Simboh is about 3 km away? I could hear the birds screaming with fright. What makes the RICH and the government think that they can harvest the limestone mountain ranges. Why is it happening in this area? The reason is simple – Padawan area has the longest mountain ranges as they stretches from Mambong till Kampung Benuk. The rich and the political leaders do not stay here. Of course, they will choose to harvest the mountains for cement and gravel in the name of development.
The rich and powerful do not know the untold suffering the villagers are going through. Even many villagers do not know the perils of pollutants to their health in quarrying zone areas. The air they breathe. The water they drink. All are contaminated. No doubt we have treated water but we are not used to the strong chlorine smell. We still prefer mountain waters.
Then we also realized the harvest of durians has become fewer and fewer as the years go by. Why? As I googled, one of the reasons is the disappearing of bats. Why? My sister-in-law shared with me that there are 5 beautiful caves in the limestone mountain ranges especially in Mambong area. Probably they are being destroyed already. My husband said they used to play hide and seek there. His cousin used to collect bird nest. Another sister-in-law shared that she also swam in the pool in the cave. The water was crystal clear and cold.
On 19 July, I met Arylene, another kampung folk. I asked her how in the world can CMS get the mountains to be quarried. She said that one of the lawyer in Kampung Mambong got the villagers in Mambong to sign and in return, the villagers will get money and jobs. Those gains are short term. The leaders should lead the villagers to choose long-term over short-term gain. And what jobs the villagers can do in CMS? Who really gain as a whole? The rich and powerful CMS. This is high-class and legal robbery. What can the villagers do?
Lord, in those days, mistakes have been made by the leaders to choose destruction over preservation. Now, I commit the present leaders and the villagers to you. Rise them up to protect the mountains, not handing over the mountains for destruction. The majestic but voiceless limestone mountains have a say. Lord, can you protect the mountains for us?
Lord, I personally need the mountains for my mental and spiritual health. Every time, I behold the mountains, I see God. Old people in this area said that those majestic limestone mountains are sacred to the Bidayuhs and whoever destroyed them, woe befall on them and their future generations. How can we allow people destroying the cultural heritage of our mountains? We proclaim that we will not anyone to treat our mountains with disrespect. It is the cultural heritage of the Bidayuhs…and we protect the mountains for the present and future generations of Sarawak. We need Sarawakians to support us.
You said pray without ceasing. So, I thank and praise You for the mountains and I pray that You will preserve the mountains for the Bidayuhs in Kampung Simboh, SIkog and Mambong and for the whole of Sarawak as a whole. Only You can do it.
Arylene has whatsapped whatever I have voiced out to the Penghule, Cikgu Dolik and he said they have signed the protest and forwarded to Dr Jerip. Lord, I commit Dr Jerip to have strong political will to save the mountains for us. I also pray that Premier of Sarawak will be the Saviour of the limestone mountain ranges in Padawan areas. Go for eco tourism - long term gains.
In Jesus’ name,
AMEN