Dayak Indigenous Leader Calls Kayan Hydropower Project Opens Many Job Vacancies For Citizens

TANJUNG SELOR - The National Dayak Customary Council (MADN) assessed that the Kayan Hydro Energy (KHE) hydroelectric Power Plant (PLTA) project was built to provide a number of positive impacts for the Dayak community. One of them is related to the opening of employment opportunities.

MADN President, Marthin Billa, agrees that the presence of the Kayan hydropower plant will involve its people for economic activities.

"First, the community will be involved, of course, according to their abilities, yes, all of these activities. Second, they will definitely provide jobs to the community to be able to work," he said at the North Kalimantan Province Dayak Traditional Center, Tanjung Selor, Saturday, December 9, 2023.

Not only opening up jobs, Marthin said the presence of the Kayan hydropower plant would also encourage economic turnover to create new entrepreneurs in the surrounding area.

"Then it can also provide motivation for young entrepreneurs because this business in our area will definitely be related to various sectors, for example their garden products, all of their fields will be marketed if there are projects, but it doesn't exist yet," he said.

"If there is already, it will definitely create jobs and provide opportunities for education and health," he continued.

In addition, PT Kayan Hydro Energy as a form of social responsibility also distributed education costs for Dayak tribe children around the project site.

They have brought the public to an appeal study. They provide scholarships to the community, our children to this day, in order to increase human resources for the development of this area," he said.

Similarly, the Chairman of the Dayak Customary Council (DAD) of North Kalimantan Province, Johny Laing Impang, admitted that PT KHE has helped children from North Kalimantan to get access to education.

"We have been given assistance to hundreds of children, in the form of jobs, scholarships, and others," he said.