MP: Why wasn't Cameron dam water level monitored?
Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) needs to explain why the water level at the Sultan Abu Bakar Dam in Cameron Highlands was not consistently monitored to the extent that an emergency release had to done, an MP said.
Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) needs to explain why the water level at the Sultan Abu Bakar Dam in Cameron Highlands was not consistently monitored to the extent that an emergency release had to done, an MP said.
DAP’s Raub MP Mohd Ariff Sabri Abdul Aziz said that this is because water levels do not “rise in an instant”.
“TNB says procedures were met, but why wasn’t there monitoring action done so that there would be time to warn the people?
“The water valve had to be opened to manage the water flow without informing the people and taking steps to reduce harm to property,” he said.
As such, Mohd Ariff has submitted an application to the speaker for an emergency motion to debate the matter in the Dewan Rakyat.
Mohd Ariff added that it is questionable why the infrastructure and processes are so “fragile” in an area which is known to have high rainfall.
He said that more than 24 hours since the disaster, which claimed three lives, we still don’t know the full extent of the damage.
RM40mil requested
“The minister in charge who is also the MP for Cameron Highlands is now asking for RM40 million to do what he needs to do (following the disaster).
“This is something that is open to question and we hope to discuss this,” he said.
Two foreigners and a Malaysian have died while one foreigner is missing after a gate at the Cameron Highlands hydroelectric dam was manually opened early this morning, to avoid the automatic opening of all four gates when the maximum level is reached.
Cameron Highlands Fire and Rescue Services Department chief Yusri Abdullah Sani said the department was alerted on the casualties at 1.38am.
The siren at the dam, located in Ringlet, was sounded at about midnight to alert residents that water will be released and the first gate was lifted about four inches.
The second siren was sounded 20 minutes later, and more water was released at 1am, followed by a full release at 2.43am.
The Bertam Valley was then flooded with muddy water, affecting 80 homes.
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