SUARAM PENANG

BAKUN DAM (HEP-Hydro-electric Project)

· To build the dam, 69,000 hectares (bigger than Singapore) need to be flood.

-bio-mass(underneath water)→it degrade and create precious gas (methane),but is vanished if the land is flooded.

· There is no need to build such big dam in Sarawak. Malaysia have about 34-37% of reserved energy and it is already too much. About 20% of reserved’s energy is sufficient for a country.

· In 1980, Tunku Dr. Mahathir support privatization in everything, e.g: Proton and energy.

· EKRAN who owned by Ting Pek Khiing (he is very close to Dr. Mahathir) got the Bakun project without tender. Taib, Chief Minister of Sarawak, also involved in EKRAN. Taib’s family control CMS(Cahaya Mata Sarawak), which is one of the most influential company in Sarawak. They hiring ABB, Germany company to build the dam.

1. SOCIAL IMPACT

· 10,000 people living in that area

· It claim that the dam is a gift for indigenous community – they can work in the site

· They’ll be moved to a proper place in Sg. Asap where there are school and other facilities

· First question to ponder

1.Who control your life?

Ø Could you make decision?

2.What is “development”?

Ø The community there have different idea in land ownership- they are sharing land together/they act as a guardian for future generation.

Ø They are not given any chance to make decision for themselves like where they’ll be moved (they are asked to pay for the new long houses)

Ø They moved because of their kid’s future because they are promise a proper education. In the end, they lost their land and community.

Ø They are not a part in the whole process

2. ENVIRONMENT IMPACT

· 1.5 million hectares rain catchment area have to be protected.

· But it is not protected but is given out for palm oil plantation.

· Impact and process (EIA)

Ø It IS not the best choice to spend 20 billion in Bakun. The government can build a smaller dam (5billion) and 10 billion in hydro-electric project.

Ø To build it, the road have to be made from Bintulu to Bakun.

The tree have to be cut out, the long house have to be knocked down.

3. GOVERNANCE,TRANSPARENCY,ACCOUNTABILITY

· No transparency (there are no tender system)

· Accountability (EKRAN get the project in 1993)

· They claim that the Bakun can be made in 5 years.

· Very unclear exactly how the dam could be productive

They even plan to build an aluminum smeltery (it is very harmful to environment and requires lots of energy)

CONCLUSION :

1. OVER ENERGY

2. TERRIBLE ENVIRONMENT IMPACT

3. LOW TRANSPERANCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

4. THERE ARE A LOT OF SMALLER PROJECT FOR HYDRO-ELECTRIC

prepared by,

wawa