I refer to The Heat Nov 9-15, 2013 issue, about the Sarawak dams project that may make Sarawak the Land of Many Dams in the future. Since 2007, Sarawak government has been promoting the state as a hub for hydroelectric power generation.  

According to the recent report by Borneo Post Online , currently Sarawak’s energy output stands at 1,182MW and only close to 1,000MW during peak demand. The existing Bintulu Gas Turbine Power Plant, Sekinjat Coal-fired power station, Batang Ai hydropower station and Biawak already provide a total of 834MW.

In addition, Bakun Dam with 2,400MW and the recently completed Murum Dam with a projected 900MW are providing excessive power for the state.

From the previous report of the Bruno Manser Fund, they voiced that 11 dams, of which two have already been completed and one is currently under construction, would have an installed capacity of 7,165MW, which is seven times of the current peak demand. Is this their so-called sustainable development?

There is no demand in building excessive dams to generate over supply of energy, which ends up sacrificing our treasure rainforest and biodiversity. The victims involved in the dams construction are those indigenous people who approximate 30,000 to 50,000 natives from 235 settlements.

Followed by this, most of the projects that need a huge amount of power supply such as the Rio Tinto Alcan-Cahya Mata Sarawak Bhd aluminium smelting project, undersea cable to supply electricity from Bakun to peninsular Malaysia have also been shelved due to cost and pricing reasons and this has made the dams project even more superfluous.

Although the Sarawak government stressed that building of 12 dams is to prepare for the future development which can boost the economy of the state by ensuring continuous and sufficient energy for development, it seems there is a lack of transparency in the public review of the results, the relocation of the locals involved in the project and also the empty promises to compensate the indigenous people involved. It’s far fetched for the public to plead ignorance to the massive corruption linked to the dam project.

On the matter of the Baram dam, the social and environmental impact assessment (SEIA) for the dam should be transparent to the public. Public review forms needs to filled using permanent ink to avoid any needless misunderstanding.

The result of the SEIA would determine the project's feasibility, therefore it should be disclosed to the public in December if we follow the project schedule. Therefore land clearing activities in the Baram project prior to the SEIA report should halt immediately if we follow the ‘free, prior and informed consent (FPIC)’ principle.

JESSLYN PEK YEN LEE is a member of the Water and Consumer Association of Malaysia (Wecam).