COMMENT The Cameron Highlands dam overflow tragedy that struck the residents of Bertam Valley in Ringlet is a sign of worse things to come.

Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) says it followed standard operating procedures (SOP). However, several questions remain unanswered.

TNB must therefore hold an inquiry and go into the full length to investigate any breaches of the SOP. And there must be no cover-up. The Cameron Highlands District Office, the District Land Office, police and state government must all take a very serious view of what has happened to avoid future tragedies.

This was not a natural disaster. If the rain has been falling for about a week, why did TNB wait so long to release the water accumulated in the Cameron Highlands hydroelectric dam? Was there other reason, or consideration, over human life and property?

The following information that is available raises some questions that need answers:

NONEFrom the chart on this left, we need to know why, when though police received information on the release of the dam water at 11.45pm on Oct 22, the siren was activated only at midnight.

Thirty-five minutes is a lot of time for huge amounts of water to flow into the river as the first release was done at 12.20am on Oct 23.

The people told me that may did not hear the siren. Among the few who heard the siren said it has gone off many times before but nothing happened so it was the ‘boy who cried wolf' story again.

What was amazing was that when the siren went off at midnight, the first release of water was made 20 minutes later . Why did not the authorities ensure that everyone was alerted before the first release of dam water?

The first distress call was received at 1.38am, but the second maximum release of water was done at 2.45am. Why did TNB release water the second time, and at maximum, when the first distress call had already been received at 1.30am?

And why did the police only brief rescue teams at 7.35am, when that should have been done immediately after 1.38am? Despite receiving a distress, call the water was released at maximum level again. All these demand straightforward answers as lives and property have been lost.

NONE

The people, especially the victims and their families, must be told the truth. TNB must also ensure that the lives of the people affected must get back to normal quickly, with just compensation provided.

TNB must also inform the people about its SOP and what steps will be taken to prevent such a tragedy from occurring again. The Land Office and other agencies must also come up with their own findings as I find that the river is not free flowing, with a lot of rubbish in it, including sheets of plastics.

As said earlier, more disasters are coming Cameron Highlands way as there are uncontrolled developments on the hill slopes.

Another tragedy waiting to happen anytime is in Eastern Villa in Ringlet, where the Land Office has turned a blind eye to the clearing of the hill on the adjacent land. Why is it that we only swing into action when tragedies occur?

M MANOGARAN is the former MP for Teluk Intan.

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