Villagers affected by the Baram dam celebrated a victory after the Sarawak government announced last month that it would revoke the gazette over land earmarked for the hydroelectric project and its reservoir. It was a victory that acknowledged the community’s customary land rights. Some 20,000 people from 30 villages would have been affected if the gazette which allowed for the acquisition their land was maintained. Today we explore the reasons of the revocation of the gazette under Sarawak’s Land Code, and the events leading up to the halting of the project.

This report is by Sonia Naidu and Keith Kam.