We met in a village at a debate and protest session between the villagers and NGOs against the local authorities in regards to the clearing of jungles by developers that are causing landslides, pollution and major floods in the Kg. Togudon, Penampang Sabah areas since early 2014.
Priscilla was the most passionate person there, debating the causes and effects of this type of development.
“Why is this so important to you?”
“I was born here, this is my home. What the development is doing to our village and environment is not right.”
“Why?”
“You see, I will live here for the rest of my life, and my children too. My village use to be beautiful with clean waterfalls, clean air, green mountains and nice roads. But today it’s all gone! This companies come here to clear the forest just to gain profits, and then they will leave, but we will be still here. And this is what they will leave us with, polluted rivers and landslides. It’s all about integrity actually, if they had that then this won’t happen, as we are not against development, but they have to think how it will help the village people who have been living here for generations, not only benefits one person. Why destroy our nature and environment for only profits and what are the authorities doing?”
Priscilla is only 20 years old. A student studying to be a teacher of Bahasa Kadayawan Dusun. She dreams to teach the culture and language of her heritage to the children here so it is not forgotten.
