The Bar Council...undertook a study trip to the Metalun and Tegulang Resettlement Areas in Murum, Sarawak from 17 to 23 May 2014.  The primary purpose of the trip was to study the post-relocation conditions of the Penan and Kenyah native communities, which had been displaced by the construction of the Murum Dam...rather than experiencing “an immediate and substantial improvement in living standards, better access to basic human rights to education and health care, and better economic opportunities, whilst preserving their cultural identities and traditions”, the affected communities have been displaced and left desolate.  Their living conditions are deplorable and their livelihood has been decimated.  In spite of this, there appears to be no sense of urgency in remedying or rectifying the situation.  The standard response when officials from Sarawak Energy Berhad visit the area is one of indifference or callousness.  The Penan and Kenyah communities are simply told that they would have to refer the matter to the “pegawai atasan” in Miri or Bintulu, which is 12 to 16 hours away by road. [Bar Council Press Release]