A SARAWAK government backbencher has sought to placate concerns about the adverse environmental impact of the state’s three planned dam projects following a flurry of objections from indigenous communities and activists.
Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau said the dams to be constructed in the Baram, Kapit and Belaga districts will not flood huge areas, unlike what had happened in the past with other projects.
The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) politician said that the projects are based on the cascading dam design, which has been implemented successfully overseas.
“The cascading dams being proposed by the premier will not flood too big an area,” he claimed.
“The local communities should not be taken in by fear. The protests by the environmentalists are premature.”
Speaking to The Vibes, he said that Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg had recently travelled overseas and studied numerous designs used by the foreign dam builders.
“The cascading designs will be less impactful to the environment. The local communities must look at the proposed dams with an open mind.
“We the state government want to bring development into rural areas, not cause harm to the people,” he said.
Ngau said Abang Johari will likely start briefing lawmakers on the new dams soon.
“We will definitely brief the people with more details in due course, so please stop the protests,” he said.
On January 16, rural folk in northern Sarawak launched ground protests in Mulu National Park and along the Tutoh-Apoh river tributaries to protest the sudden announcement by Abang Johari the day before confirming that three new hydroelectric dams will be constructed soon.
Residents of the Sg Tutoh and Sg Apoh regions staged protests after hearing about the announcement.
Abang Johari also claimed that the communities there wanted the dams as they would then get electricity supply.
However, activists representing the communities in Tutoh Apoh denied ever giving Abang Johari or any state government agency consent to build any dam.
Over in Mulu National Park, villagers gathered at the park’s headquarters and staged protests.
Social activist Willie Kajan also refuted the claims by Abang Johari that the locals had wanted the new dam to be built.
The proposed dams will be built across Sg Gaat in Kapit district (in central Sarawak), Sg Tutoh in Baram district (in northern Sarawak) and Sg Belaga in Belaga district (in central Sarawak).
Abang Johari said the dams will be constructed by private companies.
However, the distribution of the generated electricity will be controlled by Sarawak Energy Bhd, which is owned by the state government, he stressed.
Sarawak already has five huge dams – the Bakun Dam, Batang Ai Dam, Murum Dam, Baleh Dam and Bengoh Dam. – The Vibes, January 21, 2024
