Batang Ai Research Articles

Tungkus Asi Sebagai Variasi Lokal Politik Penaungan di Batang Ai Semasa Pilihan Raya Negeri Sarawak 2021

This study explains the role of “tungkus asi” in strengthening the ruling party’s political power during the 2021 Sarawak State Election (SSE21) in Batang Ai. “Tungkus asi” is one of the local variations of patronage politics practised by the Iban at the grassroots level. During the 2016 Sarawak State Election “tungkus asi” played a role in the electoral victory of the candidate from Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS). In the SSE21, “tungkus asi” once again propelled the candidate from GPS to victory and thus strengthening the ruling party’s position in Batang Ai. This article looks at how “tungkus asi” was practised and its influence on the electoral support of the Iban towards the candidates. This article was based on a study conducted in Batang Ai which involved observation and interviews with the voters and “tuai rumah”. The study found that “tungkus asi” continued to play a prominent role in galvanising support from the voters. “Tungkus asi” remains relevant in the modern political era as it has become part and parcel of the political process and election among the Iban at the grassroots level. “Tungkus asi” not only consolidates GPS political power, but its practice also helps researchers and observers alike to understand the politics of patronage within the Iban voters.

Transmission pathway of Enterobacteriaceae from reared fish and surrounding environment to water body in Batang Ai reservoir, Sarawak, Borneo

This study was aimed to determine the genetic distribution and characteristics of the bacterial family in the Batang Ai reservoir and their possible sources of transmission into the lake water. Surface water samples were collected from twenty-seven sampling points scattered around the Batang Ai reservoir and four fish samples were obtained from an aquaculture farm located within the water reservoir. The samples were plated on Violet Red Bile Agar (VRBA) plates for the isolation of Enterobacteriaceae. A total of 141 bacterial colonies were isolated from the culture plates and subjected to (GTG)5 PCR analysis to determine the genetic similarities among the isolates. A dendrogram was plotted based on the (GTG)5 PCR patterns and the representative isolates were selected for identity confirmation using 16S rRNA sequencing. Based on the sequencing, five genera of Enterobacteriaceae were identified as Enterobacter, Escherichia, Shigella, Klebsiella and Pseudocitrobacter, consisting of 12 identified species, namely Enterobacter hormaechei, E. hormaechei subsp. xiangfangensis, E. cloacae, E. cloacae subsp. dissolvens, E. kobei, E. tabaci, Shigella boydii, S. flexneri, Pseudocitrobacter faecalis, Escherichia fergusonii, E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. A total of 14 antibiotics from seven anti-microbial classes including penicillins, cephems, monobactams, aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, quinolones and fluoroquinolones, and phenicols were tested against the isolates. A total of seven species within the isolates were found to have multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index below 0.2, suggesting those isolates were derived from low risk of antibiotics contamination sources. With the exception of ampicillin and tetracycline, all antibiotics have 25% or less bacterial species displaying resistance. Most (70%) of the bacterial species showed resistance toward ampicillin. The fish isolates demonstrated multiple antibiotic resistance indexes ranging from 0.214 to 0.5. The presence of multiple antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the water reservoir may pose the risk of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections through water-related activities and consumption of fish harbouring antimicrobial resistance bacterial species. It was proven that Enterobacteriaceae were transmitted from the activities and surrounding environments to the water reservoir, thus it is proposed that a guideline for activities to be carried out in the water reservoir is created and imposed.

Novel Acoustic Snapshot of a Sarawak Forest

Auditory signals are often used by forest species to attract mates, define and defend territories, and locate prey, and thus these signals may be monitored and used to estimate species presence, richness and acoustic complexity of a patch of habitat. We analyzed recordings from a biodiversity hotspot in the rainforests of Batang Ai National Park in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. Three recording sites were established in the forest understory and continuous recordings were made for an acoustic snapshot of approximately 40 h. From these recordings, the bioacoustic index (BI) and acoustic complexity index (ACI) were computed. These acoustic indices exhibited clear periodicity with periods on the order of >6 h. The ACI and BI time series also showed oscillations, with peaks separated by 12 h corresponding to the alternation between bird and frog activity during the day and night, respectively. We quantified the relationships between the acoustic index values and anuran and avian richness, and environmental variables (rainfall intensity and time of day) using correlative and information theoretic techniques. ACI and BI were moderately positively and negatively correlated with rainfall intensity, respectively. ACI and BI were also weakly-to-moderately correlated to species richness, but with mixed directions between recording sites. However, the correlations and mutual information values, a model-free estimator of the relationship strength of random variables, were highest for the relationships between ACI and BI with respect to the rate of individual frog calls, rather than species richness alone. We conclude that acoustic indices are most useful for monitoring ecological dynamics on timescales longer than 6 h. We suggest that acoustic indices are best applied to studying changes in acoustic activity at the level of ecological populations rather than for estimating species richness, as they have been commonly applied in the past.

The Iban’s Community perceptions of Pua Sungkit Weaving at Batang Ai

This study aims to analyze the Iban community's perception of pua sungkit weaving in Batang Ai. The three objectives of this study are to identify pua sungkit in the Batang Ai area, examine the function of pua sungkit in the life of the Iban community and see the changes in the making of pua sungkit involving ten longhouses in Batang Ai, Lubok Antu. To achieve these objectives, researchers implement library search and field study by applying cultural and art theory. Cultural theory is related to the traditions, and daily activities performed, while art theory shows the heritage and handicrafts produced by the Iban community. The interview and questionnaire sessions conducted involved a total of fifty respondents and fourteen informants in explaining the relationship between the making of pua sungkit and the culture of the Iban community. The interview session found that some informants who were still healthy were willing to teach; the rest did not want due to their age. The questionnaire session showed that the majority of respondents agreed that pua sungkit is a substitute for pua kumbu. The findings show that there are still many among the Iban community who are interested and skilled in weaving and producing pua sungkit, the young Iban women are now trying to learn to weave. In conclusion, the weaving heritage is still relevant and preserved because of the functions of pua sungkit as a unique piece of traditional women's clothing, a special fabric used in religious ritual ceremonies, a wedding gift and as a decorative item at home. The implication is that there is a proposal to create a weaving training centre, to build a website as a marketing platform for the local pua sungkit weaving, and make it as one of the elective subjects in schools as to preserve and conserve the weaving cultural heritage.

Rapid shifts in methanotrophic bacterial communities mitigate methane emissions from a tropical hydropower reservoir and its downstream river

Methane-oxidizing bacteria (MOB) present in the water column mitigate methane (CH4) emissions from hydropower complexes to the atmosphere. By creating a discontinuity in rivers, dams cause large environmental variations, including in CH4 and oxygen concentrations, between upstream, reservoir, and downstream segments. Although highest freshwater methanotrophic activity is often detected at low oxygen concentrations, CH4 oxidation in well-oxygenated downstream rivers below dams has also been reported. Here we combined DNA and RNA high-throughput sequencing with microscopic enumeration (by CARD-FISH) and biogeochemical data to investigate the abundance, composition, and potential activity of MOB taxa from upstream to downstream waters in the tropical hydropower complex Batang Ai (Malaysia). High relative abundance of MOB (up to 61% in 16S rRNA sequences and 19% in cell counts) and enrichment of stable isotopic signatures of CH4 (up to 0‰) were detected in the hypoxic hypolimnion of the reservoir and in the outflowing downstream river. MOB community shifts along the river-reservoir system reflected environmental sorting of taxa and an interrupted hydrologic connectivity in which downstream MOB communities resembled reservoir's hypolimnetic communities but differed from upstream and surface reservoir communities. In downstream waters, CH4 oxidation was accompanied by fast cell growth of particular MOB taxa. Our results suggest that rapid shifts in active MOB communities allow the mitigation of CH4 emissions from different zones of hydropower complexes, including in quickly re-oxygenated rivers downstream of dams.

The Function and Role in the IBAN Social Rank in their Communities

The Sea Dayaks, better known as the Ibans, inhabit nearly the whole of Sarawak. The Ibans belong to the Proto-Malay groups and historically, they were from the Kapuas Valley in West Kalimantan, Indonesia. They migrated to Sarawak about fifteen generations ago in the mid 16th century (the 1630s). They went to the state through the Kumpang Valley and inhabit Batang Ai and then split to several places in Sarawak (Morgan, 1968). Although the Ibans have a social status in their traditional belief, they do not have a hierarchy of social status such as the Orang Ulu. However, they have elevated the status so-called Pengulu, Tuai Rumah, Tuai Burung, Lemambang, Manang, Beliau, Tukang Sabak, dan Indu Takar. The era of modernization has led to changes to the knowledge of the young generation, especially the younger generation of the Ibans who lack knowledge about the function and role of each rank status in their communities. Therefore, this study was conducted qualitatively through an interview with expert informants, observation, and documentation. This research was hoped to contribute to the general knowledge of the Iban community and other communities in the preservation of the function and role of each social status in the Iban community.

Physicochemical Parameters and Fish Assemblages in the Downstream River of a Tropical Hydroelectric Dam Subjected to Diurnal Changes in Flow

The downstream river of the tropical Batang Ai Dam is experiencing diurnal flow fluctuation due to power generation operation. Three samplings were conducted to collect the water quality and fish assemblage data and one sampling was conducted to study the hydrological characteristics of the downstream river. The results show that the downstream river is extremely shallow and moves slowly when the power generation is halted and no water is discharged from the powerhouse. Significant correlations between river flow and pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), total suspended solids (TSS), and five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) indicated that those parameters were influenced by the water discharge regulation. Fish abundance was low in upstream segment but it gradually increased as distance from the dam increased and was significantly correlated with DO. Fish diversity in the downstream river was influenced by the river depth and chlorophyll a concentration. The most abundant fish species, Cyclocheilichthys apogon, exhibited a negative allometric growth pattern, while Hampala macrolepidota and Hemibagrus planiceps exhibited an isometric growth pattern. Fulton’s condition factor (K) values for 89.4% of H. planiceps were ≤1, indicating poor to extremely poor conditions.

DEVELOPMENT OF RESERVOIR OPERATION FOR BATANG AI HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT

Batang Ai Hydroelectric Project is meant to generate electricity. The Batang Ai Dam has a maximum capacity to generate around 108MW when it is fully operational. Efficient reservoir operation should be carried out very carefully in order to provide reliable water supply for power generation and water demand. The research of this project is to review the Batang Ai Dam storage conservation for the reservoir operation by using storage conservation simulation. The simulations are carried out with various outflow conditions using the principle of the storage equation. Lastly, the results from the simulation show that with proper regulation of the reservoir outflow, the Batang Ai Hydroelectric Project reliability to provide continuous power supply without shortage in water supply is assured.

DIVERSITY AND SIMILARITY AMONG CYANOBACTERIA ASSEMBLAGES FROM SELECTED AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS IN SARAWAK USING β –INDICES

A study was carried out to evaluate the diversity and similarity of cyanobacterial populations in selected Sarawak aquatic ecosystem using β-indices. Eight stations including aquaculture ponds, cage cultures, waterfall and artificial lake located in Serian, Bau and Batang Ai areas were selected. A total of 43 species belonging to 30 genera of cyanobacteria were recorded. The most distributed pattern among all sampling stations belongs to the genera Chroococcus, Lyngbya, Nostoc and Oscillatoria. The highest β diversity values were found among non-contiguous stations. Besides, no identical or totally different cyanobacteria diversity values were obtained among those non-contiguous stations. The highest β diversity value (0.84) was found among stations with contrasting environmental characteristics. The wide range of β-diversity and similarity suggested that different locations and types of aquatic ecosystems may have variations in physico-chemical properties of the water and eventually lead to the different composition of cyanobacteria.

CROSS-SPECIES AMPLIFICATION STUDY OF Tor douronensis AND Tor tambroides USING MICROSATELLITES FROM OTHER CYPRINIDS

This study examined twenty six microsatellite primers developed from three cyprinid fishes (Cyprinus carpio, Barbus barbus and Barbonymus gonionotus) in two indigenous mahseer, Tor douronensis and T. tambroides. A total of 10 (38%) and 12 (46%) primers were successfully amplified producing four and five polymorphic loci in T. douronensis and T. tambroides, respectively. The number of alleles per locus ranging from 2 to 5 and 2 to 7 in T. douronensis and T. tambroides, respectively. A significant deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) was observed at three loci (Barb37, Barb59 and Barb62) in one or more populations in T. tambroides while two loci (Barb37 and Barb62) were deviated in T. douronensis population of Batang Ai. Bayesian cluster analysis performed with STRUCTURE showed that the most likely K value identified was K = 2 with no evidence of population substructuring, similar to those identified by the UPGMA dendrogram. The low genetic distances among populations were also supported by low interpopulation genetic differences (FST) among pairwise populations in both mahseer. Overall, the identified microsatellite loci exhibit promise for use in fine scale population structure analysis of T. douronensis and T. tambroides natural populations.

Begonia (Begoniaceae) from Batang Ai National Park and vicinity, Sarawak, Borneo, including six new species

Nine Begonia species are recorded from the Batang Ai National Park and the forest area adjacent to the Park. Of these, six species are described here as new (Begonia acidulenta, Begonia bayae, Begonia compacta, Begonia edgariana, Begonia jenginensis and Begonia tebiang). All species belong to section Petermannia. A key to the new species and three species previously described by Lin et al. (2014) is provided. Following the guidelines for the IUCN Categories and Criteria, the proposed conservation status of the seven new species known from the national park is assessed as “Least Concern”.

Eight new Begonia (Begoniaceae) species from the Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary and Batang Ai National Park, Sarawak, Borneo

Eight new Begonia (Begoniaceae) species from the Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary and Batang Ai National Park, Sarawak, Borneo

Comparisons of Water Quality near Cage Culture Sites in Batang Ai Reservoir, Sarawak, Malaysia

New development and expansion of cage culture at Batang Ai Reservoir would require investigation of the water quality. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the water quality at three existing aquaculture sites, one abandoned site, and one station without cage culture at three different depths. This study was carried out in October 2013 during the rainy season. Water quality was measured in-situ and water samples were collected and analyzed according to standard methods. Results showed that dissolved oxygen concentrations at the surface is sufficient for healthy aquatic organisms. However, dissolved oxygen at 10 m is not suitable for healthy aquatic organisms. All aquaculture sites showed significantly higher conductivity and ammonia-nitrogen at 20 m depth than the station without aquaculture. The aquaculture site that has been abandoned for nine months still showed higher 20 m chlorophyll-a and surface phosphate. Elevated surface, biochemical oxygen demand, phosphate and nitrate were observed at the largest and oldest aquaculture site. Based on the Chl-a concentration, the stations are classified as mesotrophic. This study showed that cage culture activities at Batang Ai Reservoir has impacted the water quality. Hence, further monitoring of water quality in the reservoir needs to be carried out.

Dams and indigenous peoples in malaysia: development, displacement and resettlement

Large dams have proliferated in Malaysia in recent decades. Constructed mainly to meet mounting domestic demand for water and energy, they have destroyed large tracts of species‐rich tropical rain forest and displaced many already poor and marginalized indigenous groups from their homes and ancestral lands without their consent. Evicted indigenes were promised a better life in resettlement villages, but for the most part this has not occurred. Invariably traumatized by resettlement and widely forced into cash‐based economies for which they were ill prepared, many resettled indigenes suffered from frayed social relationships, high rates of unemployment and enduring poverty, in large part because the authorities failed to internalize project costs. The consequences for indigenous groups of dam‐induced environmental change and development‐forced displacement and resettlement (DFDR) are explored through a critical reading of the literature on four large dams: Sungai Selangor, Babagon, Batang Ai and Bakun. More large dams are under construction and many others have been proposed, resulting in threats to the future well‐being of many indigenous communities. Generally speaking, the experiences of Malaysia's dam‐affected indigenes mirror those of other indigenous minorities in the greater Southeast Asian region.

Two new taxa of Melastomataceae Trib. Sonerileae: Phyllagathis rajah and Sonerila metallica from Batang Ai, Sarawak, Borneo

Recent exploration and field collections in Batang Ai, southwest Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia, has resulted in the discovery of two new taxa, Phyllagathis rajah and Sonerila metallica (Melastomataceae). Taxonomic descriptions, detailed photographs, line drawings and a comparison table are provided to distinguish them from morphologically similar species.

Distribution of Major and Trace Elements in a Tropical Hydroelectric Reservoir in Sarawak, Malaysia.

This paper reports the metals content in water, sediment, macroalgae, aquatic plant, and fish of Batang Ai Hydroelectric Reservoir in Sarawak, Malaysia. The samples were acid digested and subjected to atomic absorption spectrometry analysis for Na, K, Mn, Cr, Ni, Zn, Mg, Fe, Sn, Al, Ca, As, Se, and Hg. The total Hg content was analysed on the mercury analyser. Results showed that metals in water, sediment, macroalgae, aquatic plant, and fish are distinguishable, with sediment and biota samples more susceptible to metal accumulation. The distributions of heavy metals in water specifically Se, Sn, and As could have associated with the input of fish feed, boating, and construction activities. The accumulation of heavy metals in sediment, macroalgae, and aquatic plant on the other hand might be largely influenced by the redox conditions in the aquatic environment. According to the contamination factor and the geoaccumulation index, sediment in Batang Ai Reservoir possesses low risk of contamination. The average metal contents in sediment and river water are consistently lower than the literature values reported and well below the limit of various guidelines. For fishes, trace element Hg was detected; however, the concentration was below the permissible level suggested by the Food and Agriculture Organization.

Circadian long call distribution in wild orangutans

We present first data on circadian long call distribution of wild orangutans in Northwest Borneo. Data were collected during two months in Batang Ai National Park. A total of 151 male long calls were heard, exhibiting a bimodal distribution pattern with peaks at 05:00-06:00 hours and 18:00-19:00 hours. An earlier study found pronounced differences between the calling rates of Bornean orangutans, which showed an almost unimodal call distribution with its peak at mid-morning, and those of Sumatran orangutans, which showed a bimodal call distribution with a distinct calling peak at predawn and a more moderate peak near dusk (MacKinnon 1974). Our findings from Batang Ai resemble more closely the pattern reported for Sumatra than those reported for other Bornean localities and, therefore, contradict earlier reports suggesting a Sumatra-Borneo dichotomy in orangutan call distribution. In addition, orangutans in Batang Ai were heard to regularly emit long calls throughout the night. This behaviour is unusual for a diurnal species.

Negotiability and limits to negotiability—land use strategies in the SALCRA Batang Ai Resettlement Scheme, Sarawak, East Malaysia

Geografisk Tidsskrift, Danish Journal of Geography 105(1):17–28, 2005This paper analyses negotiations of land-use strategies in a combined governmentally controlled plantation and resettlement scheme in Sarawak. Referring to an overall concept of social processes being open-ended and hence negotiable, we argue that negotiations must be understood as a combination of practices at different levels that directly or indirectly form and transform land use strategies. After investigating two examples of land use negotiations we found that simple every-day practices such as selling plantation crops off-scheme can have just as strong implications for land use strategies as the political decisions concerning land rights. Due to this, local people are able to form and transform land use even under governmental pressure and commercialisation despite lacking influence in the forming of rural development policies. Yet, there are also limits to their ability to negotiate.

Prospecting for clay in the jungles of Borneo: the Belaga Formation, Nanga Sumpa, Batang Ai, Sarawak

This article is a light-hearted account of a geological experience in the jungles of Sarawak, highlighting some of the difficulties encountered during one of my expeditions. The area under investigation was near the Nanga Sumpa Longhouse, located on the Batang Ai River, situated in the Lupar Valley, southwest Sarawak, East Malaysia, on the Island of Borneo. The Layer Member, part of the Belaga Formation, is of Upper Cretaceous age (65-95 million years old) and is composed mainly of metamorphic muds and sands. The sedimentary origins of these slates/phyllites and metagreywackes have been interpreted as distal turbidites. The clay in question was deposited through suspension fall-out during the final stages of turbidite flows. The mission was to locate sites, yielding clay suitable for potting in order to replace the already diminishing supplies, used up by the local Iban people.

Integrating Indigenous Resource Management with Wildlife Conservation: A Case Study of Batang Ai National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia

This paper examines the indigenous land and forest management systems of the community of seven Iban longhouses whose territories comprise the area of Batang Ai National Park in Sarawak, Malaysia. It also discusses the integrated conservation and development program (ICDP) at the park. This project is attempting to work within the existing system of customary law to build on traditional legislative infrastructure and management practices, in order to enlist the cooperation of local people and their leaders in implementing a new conservation strategy. In addition to reinforcing local authority, park planners recognize the need for local people to be given strong incentives to participate in co-management of the protected area. This paper argues that, despite a history of conflict with indigenous peoples, State officials have in this instance demonstrated a willingness to work with local people and community leaders. At the same time, they are encouraging community development, helping people to find alternatives to activities that threaten the park's wildlife.