Dam issues in Malaysia

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The Star - 6.3.01 - Potential in Sarawak.

 

The Swiss government considers Sarawak a potential partner in the higher

development of forest management and timber logging despite the

controversies created by Swiss environmental activist Bruno Manser. Swiss

ambassador Staub who was in Sarawak, said his government might send a group

of timber experts to Sarawak soon to determine the type of mutual

co-operation that both parties could forge to improve the timber industry.

He said Switzerland and Sarawak could exchange expertise and knowledge in

the training of loggers, the mapping of jungle territories and the use of

helicopters for logging purposes. Switzerland is concerned about the impact

of the timber industry on the environment.

 

The Star - Bakun Dam

 

The revised Bakun hydroelectric project estimated to cost RM5bil to RM6bil

will be revived soon. The scaled down project would not supply electricity

to Peninsular Malaysia as envisaged in the original RM13bil plan but would

only generate electricity for distribution to Sarawak, Sabah and Brunei.

The dam is expected to start operations after 2005.

 

Meanwhile The Borneo Resources Institute said the project was shelved more

than three years ago and during that time extensive logging, land clearing

and relocation of villagers had been carried out. The institute, a

Miri-based environmental watchdog group with extensive networking in

South-East Asia, said a full-scale EIA survey inside the 60 000ha zone

affected by the dam project must be conducted to determine the present

condition of the land and biodiversity, and the people living in Bakun,

before reconstruction of the dam can be allowed.

 

The institute which has several branches in the state was set up in 1993 to

monitor development projects affecting the communities and the environment.

A unit will soon be set up to monitor the Bakun project from close-range.

 

Since the project was shelved, the soil conditions, river systems, flora and

fauna and social way of life in Bakun had deteriorated. The area is now

home to more than 800 species of plants, including 67 protected species, and

more than 300 species of fishes, mammals and birds of which 43 are rare and

totally protected.

 

The Bakun Region People's Action Committee adviser Thomas Jalong who had

just returned from an inspection of the resettlement scheme in Sungai Asap,

30km from Bakun, found the villagers facing many problems. The sewerage

system and housing units are in bad condition. Many of those relocated are

jobless, have little food and have been denied fair and full compensation.

They have to buy firewood now. Thomas said the government should resolve

problems plaguing 10 000 villagers who were uprooted by the dam construction

three years ago before reviving the project.

 

Dr. Masing the Social Development and Urbanisation Minister in Sarawak

blamed certain NGOs for influencing villagers who had rejected the state's

resettlement scheme. On claims by Thomas Jalong that many Sungai Asap

settlers were jobless and faced problems, Dr Masing said there were

thousands of jobs in plantations developed nearby by several companies.

Since the settlers were not keen to work, the jobs were given to

Indonesians. In reply to Jalong asking the state to give priority to the

welfare of the settlers, Dr. Masing said the project would benefit settlers

as it would provide both direct and indirect employment for them. Thomas

said the government's top priority must be the villagers' welfare and not a

project which might prove to be economically unviable.

 

 

The Bakun dam will have a main dam wall measuring 205m high and 740m wide.

The wall will be 12m thick at the top and 560m thick at the base and the

entire structure will be as high as the 44th floor of the Petronas Twin

Towers in Kuala Lumpur.

 

The Federal Government will have the majority stake in the revived Bakun

hydroelectric dam project and will allow foreign firms to participate in its

construction via an open tender system. As for fears of flooding and other

possible environmental impact that would be caused by the size of the dam,

Sarawak's Deputy Chief Minister Dr. George Chan said the government would

not embark on such gigantic projects without first analysing and evaluating

the risks involved. " There is no danger of earthquakes here and past

records will show that there have been very few cases of hydro dams bursting

or causing massive floodings. In fact, the dam can help to control floods.

The Bakun region was a good location for the construction of the dam as the

area had a very dependable rainfall pattern all year round, " he added.

 

The major part of the project will involve the construction of the 200m high

main dam wall, the dredging and deepening of the river-bed and the eventual

flooding of some 16 000ha of jungle and hills. In Kuala Lumpur, the

Opposition party urged the Cabinet to release all document, studies and data

to allow Parliament to make a decision on the project. This would make it

easier to decide whether the project should be revived to its original scale

or to approve for a smaller dam to cater for Sabah and Sarawak.

 

Beris Dam Project -

 

Another dam project to be built in Kedah will affect 600 families. They

will be temporarily moved to Batu Lima where temporary homes were being

built. More than RM40mil had been paid out as compensation to the affected

families from 13 villages. The 16sq km Beris Dam, which would have a

storage capacity of 114 million cubic metres, was scheduled for completion

in 2003 and would be filled up within two years. This will be the fourth

dam in Kedah after Muda, Pedu and Ahning.

 

The New Straits Times - 22.2.01.

 

The Penan community has taken the Sarawak Government to task for accusing

SAM an NGO, of instigating an on-going anti-logging protest in Sungai Tutoh,

Upper Baram. Penan Chief Ajang Kiew said in a statement SAM or any other

non-government organisation did not play a role in the timber blockade

staged by some 120 Penans since Jan 12. Ajang claimed that Lajong Lumber

Sdn Bhd (a subsidiary of Rimbunan Hijau Co Ltd, had shown a " total

disregard " to the Penans' right to inhabit and preserve a small portion of

the forest for their survival. The protest was staged because the Penans

wanted the State Government to set aside sufficient forest areas for them

permanently. They also want government leaders to come and see the plight

of the community and how they are being treated by timber companies

operating in the area. " We protest because we also want to highlight the

weakness of government policies on forest management. We call on the

government to review these policies (as they have failed to benefit us). We

are still living in a pathetic condition, " Ajang said.

Earlier Minister in charge of Penan's affairs suggested that the

anti-logging protest in Upper Baram was instigated by NGOs. As such he said

the Government would not listen to their grouses, adding that the blockade

was aimed to attract attention. The blockade was on all day.

 

 

 

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