16 Apr 2024, 22:09 Kuching
16 Apr 2024, 15:09 London
The three people who had died in the incident so far were identified as an Indonesian national, a North Korean and a Myanmar national….
[Sri Aman District Police Chief DSP] Mat Jusoh said the coal mine, which was located three kilometres away from the Sri Aman-Kuching main road, had been in operation for the past eight years.
“There are currently 119 workers who are Chinese, Myanmar, Indonesian, Bangladeshi and North Korean nationals working at the mine,” he added.
..The Fire and Rescue Department was informed by the mine supervisor that the mining company employed 119 workers comprising Chinese nationals (15), Myanmar (29), Indonesians (19), Bangladeshis (10) and North Koreans (46).
So, this tragedy has again exposed how little benefit from so much of the extraction going on in Sarawak goes to the local people.
In this case not a single job.
All foreigners, speaking a raft of different languages.
Along with a thorough look at the safety measures and working conditions of these imported workers, investigators must assess exactly how much money and benefit was returning to the local community, along with taxes into Sarawak from this coal mining in Sri Aman.
Too often these extractive industries have turned out to be ‘loss-making’ affairs where only a handful of local fat cats make a profit. Usually, directly into their foreign bank accounts
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