The Selangor government has stressed that it should not be blamed for Tenaga Nasional Berhad’s controversial central area reinforcement (CAR) project in Kampung Sungai Terentang, Rawang.

According to Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim, the issue should have been solved by the previous state administration.

khalid visit to kampung baru rawang 260708 05 "It is not fair for us to be blamed as the issue should have been solved a long time ago if the previous government had an efficient and professional administration," Khalid said in a statement yesterday.

The RM324 million CAR project began in July 2005 and was supposed to have been completed in August last year – when Selangor was still under BN rule.

The project involves the laying of 60km of 275kV transmission cables using TNB’s old transmissions route.

The project to upgrade the transmission grid, at an estimated cost of RM22.8 million, has angered residents in the area and they are refusing to relocate, even with compensation.

khalid visit to kampung baru rawang 260708 03 The on-going saga over the million-ringgit project started when the residents protested against giving up their land to place high-tension cables near their homes, which they considered a health hazard.

Last week, the state government reiterated that it cannot stop TNB from proceeding with the project because the national power company had the rights to do so as it owned the land.

The project was put on hold after Kampung Sungai Terentang residents filed an injunction against the project last year. Their appeal is scheduled to be heard next year.

A series of protests had also taken place throughout the village and surrounding areas including, Rawang New Village, as residents feared the power transmission cables could adversely affect their health.

Ball in TNB’s court

According to Khalid, the two options that were given to TNB - an alternative route through less densely populated areas or underground cables - have been gazetted by the state government.

rawang high tension 270808 general map

"Moreover, the court’s decision granting the land to TNB has been made. Now it’s up to TNB and the federal government to consult with the residents...," said Khalid.

He added that if TNB and the federal government found the options inappropriate, "the state government had no right to stop them from making their own decisions".

"However, the state government will keep helping the residents and hope that the Energy, Water and Communications Ministry will take their own initiative to meet the residents personally so that the problem can be resolved," he said.

Meanwhile, Selayang MP William Leong, whose constituency includes the affected area, said the state government has already provided TNB with a “fair and reasonable” solution.

“The state government has issued the notice of acquisition for the alternative land,” he said, adding that former menteri besar Mohamad Khir Toyo was wrong to blame the government for delaying the project.

He urged TNB to take into consideration “the health and safety of the people ... and not to put making profits above all else”.