Environmental group Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) today demanded that the Malaysian government reconsiders its latest hydro-electric project in Pahang.

"Alternatives to building dams must be fully explored before a decision to build a dam is to be made.

"Equally important, such a process must also include the assessment on current and future consumption patterns and steps must be taken to curb wasting and unsustainable consumption modes," said SAM president SM Idris in a statement today.

Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) announced on Dec 11 that it is planning to build a RM3 billion hydro-electric dam in Pahang to generate electricity at 1,000mw.

"SAM strongly believes that for any local or national energy plan to be sustainable, a country's decision-making process on its energy resource development has a responsibility to better assess development needs and the full range of development options," Idris said.

According to TNB chairman Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis, the new dam - sited at Sungai Jelai in Kuala Lipis - is being built to increase power supply to consumers throughout the country.

However, Idris stated that the energy production in Malaysia was adequate for the nation's use.

"While capacity will grow at an average rate of 11 percent per annum up to 2007, power demand is expected to grow by only eight percent to 10 percent in the same period. In fact, in reality, our demand has registered an even slower rate - between six and seven percent only," Idris said.

Disastrous resettlement exercises

He also raised concerns of on the possible dislocation of affected communities caused by the dam project.

"Resettlement exercises in this country have been nothing less than disastrous - experiences in the Bakun resettlement Scheme in Sungai Asap to the Sungai Selangor Dam have all been well documented.

"Finally the Pahang state government has a responsibility to the people of Pahang and owes them an explanation on the need for this project which will use RM3 billion of taxpayers' money," he said.