Save Rivers Network Sarawak (Save Rivers) is fearful that hundreds of thousands of lives, buildings and properties, and even the Bakun Dam downstream, may be in danger due to the faults on the turbines installed at Murum Dam.

“Save Rivers is very concerned and demands appropriate and immediate action to stop the impoundment of the Murum Dam,” Save Rivers chairperson Peter Kallang said when contacted by Malaysiakini .

“Otherwise it is going to be major safety hazard that can result in a massive destructive catastrophe, killing lives, destroying buildings on its path and even the Bakun Dam, which is downstream, will be affected.

“There are hundreds of thousands of people living along the banks of the Rajang River, from Belaga to Sibu and Sarikei, who should also be worried about their safety,” Peter said.

He said this when asked about the latest Sarawak Report , which revealed that the controversial RM4.28 billion Murum Dam suffers serious defects in its turbines, which can potentially cause a ‘catastrophic’ breakdown.

The portal said project owner Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB) was made aware of this problem as early as March this year, but had kept this from the public.

However, this has now come to light, with a report by Norwegian company Norconsult, which was tasked to carry out an independent assessment of the dam's turbines, was leaked to Sarawak Report .

The Murum Dam builder, Three Gorges Development (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, which is the Malaysian subsidiary of China-based Three Gorges Development Company (TGDC), is now being asked to repair the dam's defective turbines.

Turbine blades 'poorly welded'

 According to Sarawak Report , the leaked schedules show plans to assign construction engineers to work at great heights and in danger of gas leaks and explosions in confined spaces, as they try to covertly restore turbine blades, which have been 'poorly welded' with 'no grinding' carried out.

Peter said: “This shows that Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB), which is the owner of the dam, is incompetent and must stop this squander of taxpayers’ money.

“Save Rivers is very concerned and demands that SEB stops the impoundment of the Murum Dam at once.”

Save Rivers is a member of  a coalition of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that have carried out campaigns against the construction of mega dams in Sarawak, especially Murum and the proposed Baram Dam.

It has also travelled to European countries and Australia in its campaign against the 12 mega hydroelectric power dams the Sarawak government plans to build.

Currently, there is a group of Penans who are still maintaining their blockade to stop SEB and its workers from going to the Murum Dam worksite, unless their demands are met.

These demands include RM500, 000 and 25 hectares of land for each of the 300 families affected by the dam, the setting up of an education fund for their children as well as a community development fund.