Content

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s.no Chapter Page no .
1 INTRODUCTION
2 TYPES OF HYDROPOWER PLANTS
AD!ANTA"ES DISAD!ANTA"ES OF THE DA#
$ %AC&"ROUND OF %A&UN DA#
' ISSUES
( STATE RESPONSE TO PEOPLE)S PROTEST IN
#ALAYSIA
*
DISEASES FRO# THE %A&UN DA#
+ TRANS#ISSION OF %A&UN DA#
,
CONCLUSIONS
1- REFERENCES
CHAPTER .1
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Moving water is a powerful entity responsible for lighting entire cities, even countries.
Thousands of years ago the Greeks used water wheels, which picked up water in buckets around
a wheel. The waters weight caused the wheel to turn, converting kinetic energy into mechanical
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energy for grinding grain and pumping water. In the !""s the water wheel was often used to
power machines such as timber#cutting saws in $uropean and %merican factories. More
importantly, people reali&ed that the force of water falling from a height would turn a turbine
connected to a generator to produce electricity. 'iagara (alls, a natural waterfall, powered the
first hydroelectric plant in !)*.
+ydro means ,water, so hydro power is water power. Thus, hydroelectric power is electricity
generated using water power. -otential energy .or the stored energy in a reservoir/ becomes
kinetic energy .moving energy/. This is changed to mechanical energy in a power plant, which is
then turned into electrical energy. +ydroelectric power is a renewable resource. 0e have used
running water as energy sources for thousands of years. 'owadays, there are many hydroelectric
power stations, providing around 1"2 of the world electricity. The largest hydroelectric dam in
the world is 3ogun in Ta4ikistan. It stands over """ feet tall.
To make electricity this way, the water is held in a reservoir, behind the dam, the water close to
the control gates is where the intake is, and when the control gates open, the water rushes
through the penstock and turns the turbine. %fter the water does so, it goes through the outflow
into the river. The turbine spins the generator, and the electricity goes to the transformer in the
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powerhouse. Then the transformer transforms the electricity into a usable form, and the
electricity travels through the power lines and goes to homes and businesses.
5ne more thing that is needed is location. To build a dam there has to be valleys and rivers. This
will help with the building of the dam. There has to be great location or it wont work. The land
cannot be flat, or there is no way to build a dam. Canada, 67%, the former 6773, 8ra&il, China,
'orway, 9apan, 7weden, India, and (rance all use hydroelectric energy. These countries are in
order from the largest number of kilowatts in billions that are used each year.
HISTORY OF HYDROPOWER
'early 1""" years ago the Greeks used water wheels to grind wheat into flour. In the )""s,
hydropower was broadly used for milling of lumber and grain for pumping irrigation water.
%ppleton, 0isconsin became the first operational hydroelectric generating station in the 6nited
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7tates, in !!1, producing 1.: kilowatts .k0/ of power. The total electrical capacity generated
was e;uivalent to 1:" lights. 0ithin the ne<t 1" years roughly ="" hydroelectric plants were
operational around the world. The invention of the hydraulic reaction turbine created the suddent
e<pansion of hydropower. >" 2 of the 6nited 7tates electricity was provided by hydroelectric
power in the early **"s.
(or more than a century, the technology for using falling water to create hydroelectricity has
e<isted. The evolution of the modern hydropower turbine began in the mid#)""s when a (rench
hydraulic and military engineer, 8ernard (orest de 8elidor wrote %rchitecture +ydrauli;ue. In
this four volume work, he described using a vertical#a<is versus a hori&ontal#a<is machine.
?uring the )""s and !""s, water turbine development continued. In !!", a brush arc light
dynamo driven by a water turbine was used to provide theatre and storefront lighting in Grand
3apids, Mischigan and in !!, a brush dynamo connected to a turbine in a flour mill provided
street lighting at 'iagra (alls, 'ew @ork. These two pro4ects used direct#current technology.
%lternating current is used today. That breakthrough came when the electric generator was
coupled to the turbine, which resulted in the worlds and the 6nited 7tates, first hydroelectric
located in %ppleton, 0isconsin. In !!1.
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CHAPTER .2
TYPES OF HYDROPOWER PLANTS
TYPES OF HYDROPOWER PLANTS
There are three types of hydropower facilitiesA impoundment, diversion and pumped storage.
7ome hydropower plants use dams and some do not. Many dams were built for other purposes
and hydropower was added later. In the 6nited 7tates, there are about !",""" dams of which
only 1,>"" produce power. The other dams are for recreation, stockBfarm ponds, flood control,
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water supply and irrigation. +ydropower plants range in si&e from small systems for a home or
village to large pro4ects producing electricity for utilities.
I#POUND#ENT
The most common type of hydroelectric power plant is an impoundment facility. %n
impoundment facility, typically a large hydropower system, uses a dam to store river water in a
reservoir. 0ater released from the reservoir flows through a turbine, spinning it, which in turn
activates a generator to produce electricity. The water may be released either to meet changing
electricity needs or to maintain a constant reservoir level.
%n impoundment hydropower plant dams water in a reservoir
DI!ERSION
% diversion, sometimes called run#of#river, facility channels a portion of a river through a canal
or penstock. It may not re;uire the use of a dam.
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The Ta&imina pro4ect in %laska is an e<ample of a diversion
hydropower plant. 'o dam was re;uired.
PU#PED STORA"E
0hen the demand for electricity is low, a pumped#storage facility stores energy by pumping
water from a lower reservoir to an upper reservoir. ?uring periods of high electrical demand, the
water is released back to the lower reservoir to generate electricity.
SI/ES OF HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS
(acilities range in si&e from large power plants that supply many consumers with electricity to
small and micro plants that individuals operate for their own energy needs or to sell power to
utilities.
LAR"E HYDROPOWER
%lthough definitions vary, the 6.7. ?epartment of $nergy defines large hydropower as facilities
that have a capacity of more than =" megawatts.
S#ALL HYDROPOWER
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%lthough definitions vary, ?5$ defines small hydropower as facilities that have a capacity of
"" kilowatts to =" megawatts.
#ICRO HYDROPOWER
% micro hydropower plant has a capacity of up to "" kilowatts. % small or micro hydroelectric
power system can produce enough electricity for a home, farm, ranch or village.
HOW IT WOR&S
-ower is generated or ,manufactures in large power generating stations using the same basic
principle as a small grist mill yet on a much larger and vastly improved scale for better
efficiency. These electrical generators are attached to massive turbine devices which spin at great
speeds as a result of water rushing through them. These power station turbines are much more
efficient at e<tracting the kinetic energy from the moving water and converting that energy it into
power through these generators.
The +ydro $lectricity e<tracted from water depends not only on the volume but on the difference
in height between the source and the waters outflow. This height difference is called the head.
The amount of potential energy in water is directly proportional to the head. To obtain very high
head, water for hydraulic turbine may be run through a large pipe called a penstock.
(or instance, energy is derived to make power by the force of water moving from a higher
elevation to a lower elevation through a large tube otherwise known in technical terms as a
CpenstockD. 0hen the water reaches the end of the penstock, it turns a water wheel or CturbineD
at enormous speeds. The turbine rotates, via a connected shaft to an electrical generator, and this
generator creates electricity. It is the turbine and generator working in combination that converts
Cmechanical energyD into Celectric energyD. The water that makes this possible is a renewable
energy sources 4ust like the wind that turns the turbine attached to a generator.
+ydro $lectricity may be e<tracted from water but it depends not only on the volume of water
but also on the difference in height between the top of the penstock and where the water spins the
turbine. This difference in height is often referred to as the CheadD. (rom this CheadD, it can be
determined the e<act amount of potential energy that can be converted. Therefore, it is
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advantageous to build power dams as high as possible to convert the ma<imum energy from
mechanical energy.
0hile many +ydro $lectricity generating stations supply world power grids, some pro4ects are
created for private business purposes. (or e<ample, aluminium manufacturing companies re;uire
large amounts of power. %nd there are many other e<amples of industries that use hydro
electricity in their manufacturing operations.
+ydropower functions by converting the energy in flowing water into electricity. The volume of
water flow and the height .called the head/ from the turbines in the power plant to the water
surface created by the dam determines the ;uantity of electricity generated. 7imply, the greater
the flow and the taller the head means the more electricity produced.
The simple working of a hydropower plant has water flowing through a dam, which turns a
turbine, which then turns a generator. % hydropower plant .including a powerhouse/ generally
includes the following stepsA
. The dam holds water back and stores water upstream in a reservoir, or large artificial
lake. The reservoir is often used for multiple purposes, such as the recreational Eake
3oosevelt at the Grand Coulee ?am. 7ome hydroelectric dams do not impound water, but
instead use the power of the flowing river and are known as run#of#the#river.
1. Gates open on the dam, allowing gravity to pull the water down through the penstock. %n
intake conduit carries water from the reservoir turbines inside the powerhouse. -ressure
builds up as water flows through the pipeline.
=. The water then hits the large blades of the turbine, making them turn. The vertical blades
are attached through a shaft to a generator located above. $ach turbine can weigh as
much as )1 tons and turn at a rate of *" revolutions per minute.
>. The turbine blades turn in unison with a series of magnets inside the generator. The large
magnets rotate past copper coils, which produce alternating current .%C/.
:. The transformer inside the powerhouse takes the %C and converts it to higher#voltage
current so as to allow electricity to flow to customers.
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F. 5ut of every power plant e<it four power lines consisting of three wires .associated with
three power phases/ and a neutral .ground/ wire. 6sed water is carried through outflow
pipelines, which reenters the river downstream.
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CHAPTER .
AD!ANTA"ES DISAD!ANTA"ES OF THE
DA#
AD!ANTA"ES OF THE DA#
'o (uel Cost G +ydro $nergy does not re;uire any fuel like most other sources of energy. This is
a huge advantage over other fossil fuels whose costs are increasing at a drastic rate every year.
$lectricity prices are increasing rapidly in most parts of the world much faster than general
inflation. -rice shocks due to high fuel costs are a big risk with fossil fuel energy these days. In
terms of fuel, the only thing needed is water. %ssuming the natural processes running the $arths
water cycle continue, lakes will be refilled by rain and water and the dam will continue to
operate.
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Eow 5perating Costs and little Maintenance G 5perating labor cost is also usually low, as plants
are automated and have few personnel on site during normal operation.
Eow $lectricity Cost G The electricity produced from +ydro -ower is ;uite low making it very
attractive to construct hydro plants. The payback period is estimated to be between :#! years for
a normal hydro power plant. 6sing this type of energy to generate electricity is not dependent
upon the price of uranium, oil or other types of fuel. This makes electricity costs lower and more
stable, one of its most significant advantages. +ydro -lants also have long lives of between :"#
"" years which means that they are e<tremely profitable.
'o Greenhouse Gas $missionsB%ir -ollution G +ydroelectricity does not produce any G+G
emissions or cause air pollution from the combustion of fossil fuels unlike coal, oil or gas. This
makes them very attractive as a source of cheap, non carbon dio<ide producing electricity. The
pollution created by hydroelectric energy generation is ;uite minimal. There is some pollution
involved in initially constructing the power stations, but this is true of all power plants. It also
does not produce radioactive waste or involve the environmental impact of fuel being transported
to it.
$nergy 7torage G -umped +ydro 7torage is possible with most of the hydro power plants. This
makes them ideal storage for wind and solar power which are intermittent in nature. +ydro ?ams
can be modified at low costs to allow pumped storage.
7mall 7i&e -ossible G +ydroelectricity can be produced in almost any si&e from M0 to """"
M0 which makes it very versatile. 7mall +ydro -lants are being encouraged by government as
they cause less ecological affects than large hydro plants. $ven micro hydro plants are possible.
+ydroelectric power stations can be set up in almost any si&e depending upon the river or stream
used to operate them. It is big enough to power a single home, factory, small town or large city.
3eliability G +ydro -ower is much more reliable than wind and solar power as it does not rely
upon finite resources like natural gas or coal to generate power. +ydroelectricity is more or less
predictable much in advance though it can decrease in summer months when the water is low in
the catchment areas.
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+igh Eoad (actor G The Eoad (actor for 7olar and 0ind $nergy ranges from :#>"2 which is
;uite low compared to (ossil (uel $nergy. +ydroelectricity on the other hand has a load factor of
almost >"#F"2.
Eong Eife G +ydro -lants has a very long life around :"#"" years which is much longer than
that of even 'uclear -ower -lants. The long life implies that the lifecycle cost of a +ydel -ower
-lant becomes very low in the long term. +ydroelectric power might be the most widely used of
the alternative energy sources given that the flow of energy can be regulated, and the large
;uantities of energy which can be generated from a single dam.
DISAD!ANTA"ES OF THE DA#
7ince the most feasible sites for dams are in hilly or mountainous areas, the faults that often
created the topography pose a great danger to the dams and therefore the land below them for
thousands of years after they have become useless for generating power. In fact, dam failures do
occur regularly due to these terrain conditions, and the effects are devastating.
0hen a new dams reservoir floods the countryside, people who live in the area have to move
and relin;uish their former lifestyles in order to make way for the pro4ect. This is very stressful
and often controversial, especially if a community has maintained a particular way of life on the
same land for generations.
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The construction of a dam not only affects the people nearby, it can severely alter a rivers
natural functions. %ccording to %merican 3ivers, a conservation organi&ation, Cby diverting
water for power, dams remove water needed for healthy in#stream ecosystems. 7tretches below
dams are often completely dewatered.D This may not seem like a significant problem until
animal species are studied. 8irds that have migrated to a specific riparian environment for
generations no longer have enough insects on which to prey when the water level drops. If they
have few migration alternatives, that could mean the endangerment of species that once
flourished.
(ish species such as salmon Cdepend on steady flows to flush them down river early in their life
and guide them upstream years later to spawn. 7tagnant reservoir pools disorient migrating fish
and significantly increase the duration of their migration. C'ative populations of fish may
decrease or disappear altogether due to temperature changes caused by dams. 7lower water flow
means warmer temperatures, and bottom#release of cold water means cooler temperatures.
7everal of hydropowers disadvantages focus on fish. It is easy to forget how important fish and
other a;uatic life are, some of which reside at the bottom of the food chain.
The environmental changes caused by hydroelectric pro4ects may be obvious to the local
biologist, but elude the average person. Most people will more readily notice a smoggy ha&e
developing in an area where a coal plant is operating than a smaller population of a particular
bird species where a hydropower facility functions. 7uch oversights lead people to believe that
nothing is wrong.
+ydroelectric companies and organi&ations often emphasi&e their CcleanD manufacture of
electricity and neglect to mention the long#term environmental ha&ards. C?ams hold back silt,
debris and nutrients.D 7ilt collects behind the dam on the river bottom, accumulating heavy
metals and other pollutants. $ventually this renders the dam inoperable, leaving the mess for
future generations, who will either have to remove the collected debris or live with a potentially
catastrophic mudflow poised to inundate the area below the dam.
There is also a debate between preserving rivers for their aesthetic value versus meeting the
energy needs of thousands of people. The latter has prevailed. Today Cthere are F"".""" river
miles impounded behind dams. In contrast, only ",""" river miles .not even half of 2/ is
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permanently protected under the 'ational 0ild and 7cenic 3ivers 7ystem.D The only undammed
river in the 67 that is longer than F"" miles is the @ellowstone.
In Malaysia, there are many dam already built all over the country. 7uch as Terengganu
+ydroelectric ?am with >""M0 installed capacity .7ultan Mahmud -ower 7tation >H""M0/,
Cameron +ighlands ?am 1F1M0 installed capacity .9or ?am ""M0, 0oh ?am :"M0,
5dak ?am >.1M0, +abu ?am :.:M0, Iampung 3a4a ?am ".!M0, Iampung Terla ?am
".:M0, 3obinson (alls ?am ".*M0/, 7ungai -erak +ydroelectric ?am installed capacity
.8ersia ?am )1M0, Chenderoh -ower 7tation >".:M0, Ienering -ower 7tation 1"M0,
7ungai -iah upper dam >.FM0, 7ungai -iah lower dam :>M0, Temenggor -ower 7tation
=>!M0/.
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CHAPTER .$
%AC&"ROUND OF %A&UN DA#
%AC&"ROUND OF %A&UN DA#
The 8akun ?am is situated on the 8akun 3apids at the confluence of the 3a4ang and 8alui
3ivers, in 7arawak, $ast -eninsular Malaysia. This dam is estimated to produce 1>"" M0s of
hydropower and would cost =.: billion 3inggits .=.F billion 67?/. The pro4ect included a plan
for F:" kilometres of undersea electricity transmission lines to transmit electricity from
7arawak to -eninsular Malaysia, and some related infrastructure such as roads, a new township
and an airport. The 8akun ?am pro4ect contains a 1" metre high concrete dam, which will
create a catchments area of >,):" s; kilometres, and floods a tract of F*,F>" hectares of
7arawakJs primary rainforest, roughly the si&e of 7ingapore. It will be the biggest of its kind in
7outheast %sia once construction is completed. The pro4ect was first proposed in *!F, approved
by the cabinet in **>, and shelved in **) during the %sian economic crisis. This pro4ect was
revived in *** in a scaled#back version with :"" M0 capacities, but the decision was revised
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again in 1"" to revert to its original 1>"" M0 scale, though without the installation of the F""
kilometres of undersea cable. 8akun ?am is currently under construction and is e<pected to start
its operations in 1"").
Malaysian government national policy .Kision 1"1"/, aims to achieve a fully industriali&ed
nation by the year 1"1". Earge#scale pro4ects are the key to achieving this. The 8akun ?am is
e<pected to be the main powerhouse to meet the nations increasing demand for energy. It will
also aid economic growth and industrialisation in the 7arawak region. The Malaysian
government, with the help of the 8akun ?am, also aims to develop and modernise the
indigenous people of the area. Thus, the regime favours the 8akun ?am pro4ect without any
reservations.
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CHAPTER .'
ISSUES
ISSUES
Protest aga0nst the %a12n Da3
The 8akun ?am threatens the regions forests, rivers, soils and traditional economy. %ctivities
such as logging, habitat destruction and reservoir flooding are e<pected to have a serious impact
on the rainforest, resulting in severe ecological problems. These are the main concerns of the
local population and activists, which lead to their open opposition of the 8akun ?am pro4ect.
The lack of consultation with the affected indigenous people, and no public participation in the
$I% process has been criticised by various parties.
$nvironmentalists, 'G5s and indigenous peoplesJ organi&ations in 7arawak argue that there is
no need in the region for such a large power generation pro4ect .8ocking, 1""=L Thompson M
+ui, 1""/. Iua Iia 7oong, director of Malaysian 7uara 3akyat Malaysia#76%3%M .The
Koices of Malaysian -eople/ allegesA CThe manner in which the 8akun ?am has been 4ustified,
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from the original 1>"" M0 with submarine cable to 0est Malaysia, to a downscaled :"" M0
dam, now back to 1>"" M0 without submarine cable, smacks of very irresponsible policy
making. %lmost certainly, no serious attempt has been made to 4ustify the pro4ect in terms of
energy needs and supplyD .Thompson M +ui, 1""/.
More than ",""" indigenous people from : communities used to live along the 3a4ang and
8alui 3iver. They have been forcibly displaced and relocated to the government#sponsored
resettlement area located at Iampung 7ungai %sap .%sap 3iver Killage/ and Iampung 7ungai
Ioyan .Ioyan 3iver Killage/. The Coalition of Concerned 'G5s on 8akun .Gabungan/, the
8akun 3egion -eopleJs Committee .83-C/, 7ahabat %lam Malaysia#7%M .(riends of the $arth/
and other members of Malaysian civil society are providing support to the affected indigenous
people in their fight against the 8akun ?am pro4ect. These groups believe that the only real
solution is shelving the pro4ect. They address the growing crisis faced by people displaced by the
pro4ect, and advocate a more realistic, sustainable, transparent and democratic approach to the
issue of energy needs and supply in Malaysia.
+owever, policy makers do not provide any information to the 8akun residents nor arrange any
dialogue and consultation with the different tribal groups regarding the details of compensation
or resettlement schemes.
In ***, the authorities carried out the codenamed ,5peration $<odus resettlement e<ercises,
which provided limited information to the affected villagers. The only information imparted was
that the )" per cent balance of their cash compensation .for the ,loss of property and goods from
their previous homes in 8akun/ could only be given within two weeks of their arrival at the
government#planned %sap 3esettlement village. The state government also warned the villagers
that compensation payments would be withheld from those who refuse to move out. Moreover,
army and police forces would be used to remove protesting villagers. The fear of losing their
compensation money and the worries of the armed forces action were the main reasons that
drove the people to move into the resettlement area.
%t the resettlement area, people are suffering from poverty, malnutrition, unemployment and
adverse socio#economic conditions. There are claims that the house units at the %sap
3esettlement 7cheme were not in accordance with that promised in the relocation plan .0orld
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3ainforest Movement, ***b/. The land given to each family was limited to food growing but
not ade;uate for farming activities. 0ithout e<pertise in market investment, the underpaid
compensation money was insufficient for the villagers and their families. These unsustainable
dilemmas continue to escalate and create greater conflicts .Thompson, +arlan M +ui, 1""/.
Killagers from the dam site and those who lived downstream of the 8alui 3iver have petitioned
to the government, demanding work on the dam be halted until compensations disputes, land
rights issues, and water pollution problems have been ade;uately addressed .0orld Commission
on ?ams, 1""/.
?eteriorating conditions have forced some families to move from the resettlement area and
return to their original homes in the inundation &one .Gabungan, 1""/. They look up to the
hundreds of families who have refused to move to the %sap 3esettlement village. They have
successfully established new villages on their ancestral lands near the dam. There they have
enough fish, land for cultivation and forest for hunting. +owever, their statuses remain
vulnerable, as their land is not legally recogni&ed by the state.
The affected communities have organi&ed several lobbying trips to the capital of 7arawak and
other ma4or cities in -eninsular Malaysia. +owever, it is not yet to part of the political culture in
Malaysia to meet with grassroots representatives directly. The government has actively
discouraged public debate and prohibited local media reporting on the adverse effects of the
8akun ?am since the beginning of construction .Gabungan, 1""/. The mainstream media in
Malaysia is used to support the governments policy. The dissenting voices of more than ","""
indigenous people who have been resettled have never been ade;uately represented. In
?ecember **F, a group of indigenous people arrived at the dam siteJs airport with the banners
saying, C?o not invest in this pro4ectD and CThis pro4ect will destroy our cultureD 4ust as a
planeload of prospective 8ritish investors arrived. 'evertheless, such opposition to the pro4ect
was never reported in the national media. (urthermore, common people and 4ournalists are
prohibited from entering the construction area, as it has been classified as a restricted security
&one. This is 4ust one of the government efforts to avoid negative reports and public criticism of
the pro4ect .7chult&, **)/.
The planning and implementation of the 8akun pro4ect lacks transparency, and suffers from
usual Malaysian cronyism. The feasibility studies and $I% of the pro4ect was never brought to
21
light, despite being re;uired under federal law. In **:, The 7arawak Chief Minister, who was
alleged to have direct financial interest in the pro4ect was appointed to head the 7arawak 'atural
3esources and $nvironment 8oard .7'3$8/. 7ince the 7arawak $I% Guidelines do not allow
public participation in the $I% process .unless the pro4ect proponents desire/, there was no
public input in the seventeen $I% studies commissioned for the 8akun ?am.
Indeed, the report on the $I% finding has been classified as a confidential document under the
5fficial 7ecrets %ct .57%/ and therefore it is not available for public distribution .International
3iver 'etwork, 1""1/. Malaysian activist groups, which include the 0orld 0ildlife (und for
'ature .00(/ Malaysia, opposition ?emocratic %ction -arty .?%-/ and the $nvironmental
-rotection 7ociety of Malaysia .$-7M/ have called on the government to release all studies on
the 8akun ?am. +owever, the government reacted only by giving verbal assurances that the $I%
of the pro4ect ,had already been done and ,the pro4ect was safe and environmentally friendly
.Gabungan, 1""L %sia -acific 7olidarity#7arawak, **=/.The Malaysian opposition leader,
?%- chairman Eim Iit 7iang alleges that the 8arisan 'asional#8' .ruling 'ational (ront
%lliances/ revived the pro4ect in 1"" in order to influence the 7arawak state general election,
hoping to win votes by promising mega development pro4ects. 7ome claim that the dam
construction only benefits a certain section of powerful individuals, and not the local community.
The 8akun ?am pro4ect construction was granted to $kran 8erhad without proper public tender.
$kran 8erhad is a private company with close links to the ruling government. 0hen $kran
abandoned the 8akun ?am pro4ect after the **) economic downturn, a compensation of 1:=.=
million 67? was given to $kran by the government as payment for ,work already done.
Moreover, companies close to the ruling alliance, such as 7hin @ang, 7am Eing and $kran, have
reserved usable land around the resettlement area for palm oil plantation.
The local population of the 8akun pro4ect area brought legal proceedings against the 8akun ?am
pro4ect. They filed a lawsuit against $kran 8erhad and the Malaysian government for failing to
include the public participation principle in 8akun ?am pro4ect. The Malaysian +igh Court
handed down a 4udgement on * 9une **F, declaring the pro4ect invalid and illegal because it
did not comply with federal environment law, which re;uires some form of public participation
in the $I% study .Gabungan, ***/.
22
+owever, the Malaysian Government and $kran 8erhad later brought the decision to the
Malaysian Court of %ppeal. The %ppeal Courts ruling overturned the +igh Court decision on
) (ebruary **), and removed the legal obstacles to the construction of the 8akun ?am and
e<empted the 8akun ?am from complying with the federal $nvironmental Nuality %ct of *)>.
The lack of 4udicial independence in Malaysia has made it difficult for the people affected by the
dam to fight for their rights .Gabungan, ***/.
CHAPTER .(
23
STATE RESPONSE TO PEOPLE)S PROTEST IN
#ALAYSIA
STATE RESPONSE TO PEOPLE)S PROTEST IN #ALAYSIA
The political authority in Malaysia has used all its power to suppress open opposition to the
8akun ?am pro4ect. -olice and armed forces have been used to apply coercive power in the
name of maintaining public order. In %pril **F, protestors gathered at the $kran 8erhad office
in Iuala Eumpur to deliver a memorandum condemning the 8akun pro4ect. -olice used tear gas
and batons to disperse the crowd. -olice forces also used highhanded tactics to foil protest at the
dam site .7chult&, **)/. The government has regularly denounced the opponents of the pro4ect
as unpatriotic and irresponsible, and even ,e<tremists .0orld 3ainforest Movement, ***b/.
The government#controlled media has come up with stories regarding several local activist
groups, which campaigned against the 8akun ?am pro4ect, claiming that they are in the pockets
of overseas 'G5s. The government then denounced them as ,foreign agents, acting against
national development policies .?JCru&, 1""1/. The then Malaysian -rime Minister, ?r.
Mahathir, issued a clear and unambiguous warningA OMalaysia wants to develop, and I say to the
so#called environmentalists ,Mind your own businessD .7chult&, **)/. The government also
publicly threatened that it would monitor the activities of those who campaign against the pro4ect
24
and might use the Internal 7ecurity %ct .I7%/ against them .Muslimedia, **F/. Moreover,
several anti#dam activists have been denied entry into the 7arawak region. In short, the
government of Malaysia has not only overlooked, but even suppressed popular opposition to the
8akun ?am pro4ect, and is determined to construct this massive dam.
In a democratic system, a high proportion of government decisions receive input from a
substantial number of citi&ens. In a non#democratic political structure, fewer citi&ens make or
influence a smaller number of decisions .Milne M Mau&y, ***/. Malaysia under the rule of the
irreplaceable 8' coalition promoted the concept of ,%sian ?emocracy .Chan, **=L (rancis
Eoh M Ihoo, 1""1/. which advocates economic dynamism, political stability, social discipline
and cultural conservation .3odan, ***L (rancis Eoh M Ihoo, 1""1/. Thus, the Malaysian semi#
authoritarian ,modified democracy .Crouch, **=/ and ,representative regime .Crouch, **F/
subse;uently do not act democratically especially in its public policy conflict management
approach. %lthough the policymaking process hides behind a ,democratic procedure
smokescreen, the regime tends to use coercive practices to sustain the notion of ,less democracy,
more stability, more development .Gome&, **>/. The 8akun ?am case study has shown that
the Malaysian regime sets very narrow parameters for negotiating settlements. The public has
limited ability to launch counter challenges and change policy principles.
The soft authoritarian Malaysian regime is more effective in the implementation of policy
decision through its dominating and suppressive methods that constrain any manifest conflict
escalation. +owever, the suppressive action may reconcile surface conflicts but never remove the
root of the problem, nor ensure secure benefits for the ma4ority. 5n the other hand, Thailand,
which is a more democratic country, is facing greater difficulties in solving their public policy
conflicts. The goal seeking competition through the democratic process involves complicated
procedures, which may take a longer period of time to achieve mutual consensus. 'evertheless,
this process is more beneficial for the nation, society and the government in the long term,
particularly the growth of a healthy democratic state, where poor and marginal section of the
society has the possibility to protect its interest. 'o particular political structure is the perfect
design to prevent public policy conflicts. +owever, when conflicts emerge, a better#designed
democratic political structure helps the parties to manage the conflict in a more 4ust and fair
manner.
25
EN!IRON#ENTAL EFFECT
8akun +ydroelectric ?am pro4ect like the rest construction of large dams in the world not
escaped from this attack, both in terms of rational for the development of hydropower
construction or in the aspect of construction of the dam. Construction of the dams is often
associated with environmental damage, especially forest, rivers, wetlands and wildlife. It is said
to be affect the river system, as well as water ;uality. It will cause water river sediment trapped
behind the dam. 7tudies have shown more than *" percent of the sediment trapped in the dam
and thus cause environmental problems is greater such as erosion in the river. 7edimentation
behind the dam ,?am in $gypt for e<ample caused erosion in the 'ile ?elta, about five to eight
meters per year.
WATER POLLUTION
6sually the river will become elastic and slit as soil erosion to occur during construction and
water emission. (rom here, the water turned brown lead to the growth of a;uatic plants occur.
8ut on the other hand the river will become mineral deficiency caused by the problems with the
water flow system slow down due to water reservoir. Mineral and o<ygen rate is decreasing.
(urther problem arise when people farming the agricultural plant. 6se of pesticides can not be
drained and recycled in the river. 3ates of fertili&er use also effect water ;uality when water is
released from the dam.
SOIL CONTA#INATION
The problem arises when the dam construction waste is also irregular. In addition, sediment and
soil in the area downstream of the lake causing this area become shallow. This is due to soil
erosion problems in the area banks and waste disposal problems such as construction of woo,
trash and construction of the mainly material.
Indirectly, the downstream river becomes more shallow as well as the lake. This pollution is
causing the problem and disturbance to wildlife. This also caused problems for residents as well.
26
SALT WATER PRO%LE#
Construction of dams caused the river water flows downstream to slow down the flow causes the
entry of salt water slowly over time. This result in a;uatic system becomes unbalance especially
in fresh water o&one. (ish breeding will be affected. This also caused the tidal wave rose and
broke the beach harder. 7o, this salt water can penetrate deep into the river.
+igh concentrations of pollutants e<ists when this salt water entry. This is because the river
water flow is slow to melt the content that contained on this coast. This is a problem for people
that living there but the problem should consider the gradient and the si&e of the river and the
deterioration of river water flow.
EFFECT OF #INERAL SOIL EN!IRON#ENT
7oil is the main ingredient in plant growth because it contains important mineral that needs by
the plant. 8ut after the construction of the dam, the soil mineral content was affected either in
land or river. 7oil would erode causing declining the ;uality of the soil. Mineral here brought
down by the flow of surface water.
This problem increase when mineral not or only slightly absorbed into the soil. 7oils within the
river e<perienced the same situation. 8ut all of the mineral will accumulate in the dam.
"REENHOUSE EFFECT
7ome of the people mentioned that hydro assumptions do not contribute to global warming is a
myth. (oreign scientists in =" central water reservoir or hydroelectric dams have all greenhouse
gases, gas that cause s global warming.
In fact, scientists study the International 3ivers 'etwork .I3'/ showed some power center hydro
in tropical countries to give more impact to global warming compared to natural gas power
centre. Canadian scientist are also making the assumption of dams around the world release up to
)" million tons of methane.C+
>
/

and appro<imately one billion tones of carbon dio<ide .C5
1
/
27
each year. This is e;uivalent to four percent of the C5
1
and about one fifth of C+
>
which was
released as a result of various activities humans.
+owever, this study ;uestioned is its authenticity. There is a lot uncertainty particularly on the
effectiveness, accuracy and validity of the method used to measure the greenhouse gas emissions
from dam. In fact, many local and international scientists did not rule out the fact this study more
on to sabotage the efforts to develop the sector of the renewable energy. %bout ! percent of the
energy supply to the world today is generated from hydropower.
E4TINCTION OF FLORA AND FAUNA
This dam was also alleged to oppress the lives of people, a flat#opinions are of minority groups
and poor people. They not only homeless but also sources of income and usually compensated
received is not commensurate.
8akun +ydroelectric ?am pro4ect with an area of 7ingapore or si< times larger than the Ienyir
?am was charged by ant hydroelectric that it affects more than !"" plany species, including F)
protected species, "> species of fish, 11* mammals and >= species of protected birds,
destroying :" million meters various types of solid timber and suppress more than ", """
people in the surrounding areas. 5bviously, the first and second phases of the 8akun dam pro4ect
had brought hardships to most indigenous people from ethnic Ienyahs, 6kits and Iayans where
their living villages were flooded and destroyed.
FOREST DESTRUCTION
Construction of dams re;uired e<tensive land clearing without control. %s in 8akun has a
significant impact and can be seen clearly. The most obvious e<ample of the 8akun ?am has
destroyed )"""" hectares of natural habitat.
In percentage terms, Malaysia has the most e<tensive forest with :" percent of forest area and
more than 1" percent covered by crops such as rubber and palm oil compared to only : percent
of forest area in $urope. %lthough the forest is treated with care, we must accept the fact that part
of that area must used for other interests. In fact, there is no doubt that the construction pro4ect of
this would have an adverse impact on the environment and humans. %s we care about our lives
28
that re;uire resource such as energy that can be generated by the water, we must keep our
environment and vice versa.
-ro4ect Manager of Malaysia#China +ydro 9oint Kenture .MC+ 9K/, the contractor entrusted to
construct the dam, Gilles -orlier, said that his team and the government to take all measures
necessary to minimi&e adverse effects to people and the environment. 6ni;ueness, diversity and
richness of the natural resources are not at all negligible. MC+ 9K $nvironmental Manager, 7yed
7yed Madhi 9unaidi, always monitor the site and surrounding area to ensure that the pro4ect
comply with regulations and which determined by $nvironmental Management -lan.
SOCIAL DA#A"E
The construction of 8akun ?am effected the native people very much. Many of them lost their
traditions, culture and the way of life have to be changed. This is due to their source of income,
place to live and some other treads such as infectious and water#borne disease. Their usual route
in the forest also need to be changed due to the dam construction. Indirectly, they are isolated
from their tradition. %nd most importantly problems in food sources arouse since they are very
depending on the forest. $specially their protein sources from fishes in 8alui river. (ishery
activity in this river is declining and the si&e of fishes also decreases. %nd thus all of this is
threatening the locals.
3ecently as reported in The 8orneo -ro4ect, The 7wiss 8runo Manser (und .8M(/ has today
disclosed a series of shocking pictures from the 8akun dam e<clusion &one showing disturbing
poverty and environmental destruction in the Malaysian state of 7arawak on 8orneo.
% 8M( research team has managed to overcome the tight security measures preventing
4ournalists or 'G5s to travel behind the recently filled 8akun dam wall, %sias largest dam
outside China and the worlds second#tallest concrete#faced rockfill dam. The only recently
completed 1>"" M0 hydropower dam was meant to bring development and progress to the
people of 7arawak.
-ictures now disclosed to the public, however, show its real conse;uencesA displaced indigenous
communities forced to live in floating homes and the destruction of a uni;ue rainforest habitat
that counts among the most biodiverse in the world. CThe e<tent of suffering by the displaced
29
communities is shockingD, said 8M( campaigner %nna Meier, who had visited the dam site.
C+undreds of displaced people are living in floating homes on the 8akun impoundment.
Malaysias showcase development pro4ect has turned into a disaster dam.D %n indigenous 6kit
community now living in floating homes was forcibly displaced while their village and
graveyards were flooded. C5ur aim is to build a new longhouse onshore near our former villageD,
the headman of the 6kit community said. C8ut we lack the funds and the government refuses to
support us. They have not even paid us compensation for our submerged land because we
refused to move to the resettlement site of the government.D %s their traditional farmlands have
been flooded, the 6kits live from fishing, hunting and harvesting some of the trees flooded by
8akun dam.
The 8akun dam construction submerged F*:km1 of rainforest, an area the si&e of 7ingapore, and
with it parts of one of the worlds biodiversity hotspots. The visitor can now watch a uni;ue
world drowning in the waters of 8akun impoundmentA trees change their colour from green over
brown to grey until they will finally disappear in the rising water forever. Close to """"
7arawak natives have been forcibly displaced but some refused to move to the resettlement site
and returned to what is left of their former lands. The 8runo Manser (und calls on the 7arawak
state government to immediately lift all travel restrictions to the 8akun dam site and to the
Murum dam construction site in order to allow independent 4ournalists and the public to take
notice of what is really going on with these mega#pro4ects. Malaysia is also asked to assist the
6kits and other indigenous communities in the 8akun region to return to their unflooded
traditional lands and to pay the full compensation for their submerged lands and houses.
30
(loating +ouse 8akun ?am
CHAPTER .*
DISEASES FRO# THE %A&UN DA#
31
DISEASES FRO# THE %A&UN DA#
It is something normal that when involving the construction site there will be the problem on the
spread disesase is happen. The chance of getting infected to the diseases is higher especially
when involving the workers. The same situation happen on the workers of 8akun ?am. It is
believed that many workers are died during the construction of the 8akun ?am. 8ut there is no
news regarding the death because the actual causes of their death is not clearly identified yet.
The potential diseases that can be found is the disease especially related to the water#borne
vectors such as schistosomiasis, opisthorchiasis, malaria, and filiriasis.
This is because the worker is e<posed with the ground water especially when involving in the
construction of the dam. 5ther than that, there is also believed that sediment accumulation that is
in the dam will shortening the useful lifespan of the dam. The workers get infected during the
drilling activity. In the 8akun ?am, it is reported that nine people was death, and the rest :"
people are infected with those disease.
These diseases also will give risk on the residents of 8akun resettlement in 7ungai %sap. The
residents here are feared to be e<posed and infected with the infectious deadly disease such as
meliodiosis and leptospirosis or known in Malay as ,penyakit kencing tikus. 8elaga town, the
32
nearest urban centre to the dam is identified as the source of this disease. The construction of
8akun pro4ect triggered the disease. 8akun Community 7afety Committee .87C7/ has said that
there are four 7arawak (orestry 7taff that is suspected with the disease. The deceased staff
members were involved in moving large animals from the 8akun ?am water catchment area to
higher ground and fell sick upon completion of the work. +owever, the melioidosis and
leptospirosis disease is believed to be endemic and can pass from animal to animal but not from
person to person. The source of the water#borne and the bacteria is from rat urine.
%ccording to the ministry of health, meliodiosis is actually caused by bacterium .bulkholderia
pseudomailei/. This bacteria if founded in the soil, rice paddies and stagnant waters in the
7outheast %sia and 'orthern %ustralia. -eople can get infected with this disease when the
contaminated soil comes in contact with an abraded area of the skin. The bacteria are found in
contaminated water and soil and spread to humans and animals through direct contact with the
contaminated water water and soil and can be spread to humans and animals through direct
contact with contaminated source. The bacteria is also some concern as a potential agent for
biological warfare and also biological terrorism. This disease is similar to glander disease that
passed to humans from infected domestic animals.
5n the other hand, the leptospirosis disease is caused by bacteria called spirochete, and is
transmmitted through contact with infected soil or water. 8ut according to the 7tate ?isaster
3elief Committee chairman, ?r. Chan, the disease were caused by bacteria and not the virus.
8acteria can be tackled by antibodies and the bacteria is still under control and not spreading.
The Orang Asli in 7arawak have their strong believe towards the spirit that care their place. The
native resident of the 8akun believe that the death of the worker and the people in the
resettlement area are because of the cursed of the angry spirits that is angry with the construction
of the dam on their site. %ctually it is confirmed that the caused of the disease is actually by the
melioidosis and also leptospirosis. The disease becoming worst because of the worker doesnt
tell to their supervisors about their symptoms and signs of disease. Thats why the number of
death arises and more workers are infected.
33
0ith this condition of infected disease, actually it is giving more problems toward the country.
In my opinion, we know that the disease make more workers infected to the disease and
unfortunately there will be more workers died during the progress of the pro4ect. To make the
pro4ect move continuously, more workers is needed, so the company will need to take more
workers and of course the workers that want is the foreigner worker. This will increase the
amount of foreigner worker in 7arawak. This foreigner is come from Indonesia or Ialimantan to
find 4ob. The construction of the 8akun ?am not only caused danger to the worker but also the
resident on he 8akun resettlement area.
(igure ># the melioidosis diasease that infected worker of 8akun ?am that is source from the
contaminated soil and water.
34
CHAPTER .+
TRANS#ISSION OF %A&UN DA#
35
TRANS#ISSION OF %A&UN DA#
The main purpose of the construction of 8akun ?am is to generate electricity to the -eninsular
Malaysia. This dam was believed to be an alternative ways other than using the electric supply to
generate energy that is based on the water that is the renewable energy and can be obtained
naturally. The former resources of the electricity in the power plant is from coal. 6sing of coal
have its own effect when it can release the green house gases, so with the alternative of using
water as the source of power of the generation of electricity can decreased the green house gases.
The purpose for the dam was to meet growing demand for electricity. +owever, most of this
demand said not to giving benefits in -eninsular Malaysia but only in $ast Malaysia, where the
dam is located. $ven in -eninsular Malaysia, however, there is an over#supply of electricity, with
Tenaga 'asional 8erhad being locked into unfavourable purchasing agreements with
Independent -ower -roducers. The original idea was to have ="2 of the generated capacity
consumed in $ast Malaysia and the rest sent to -eninsular Malaysia.
This plan envisioned )=" km of overhead +K?C transmission lines in $ast Malaysia, F)" km of
undersea +K?C cable and ="" km of +K?C transmission line in -eninsular Malaysia. +owever
for the transmission to the -eninsular Malaysia, the 8akun ?am still needed the laying of
undersea cable to transmit electricity. (uture plans for the dam include connecting it to an
envisioned Trans#8orneo -ower Grid Interconnection, which would be a grid to supply power to
7arawak, 7abah, 8runei, and Ialimantan .Indonesia/. There have been mentions of this grid
made within %7$%' meetings but no actions have been taken by any party.
The transmission will use the alternating current .%C/ instead of the direct current .?C/ because
%C is the main driving force in the industries and residential areas, but for the long transmission
36
line thats is e<ceed >"" miles, %C transmission is more e<pensive than that of ?C. Technically,
%C transmission line control is more complicated because of the fre;uency. ?C transmission
does not have this limitations, which has lead to the bulid of the +K?C transmission lines.
+K?C technology made possible to transfer bulk power over the long distance.
Chart # The transmission of the 8akun ?am to the -eninsular Malaysia, outside Malaysia, and
also $ast Malaysia.
The uses of the electricity for the -eninsular Malaysia is :"""M0 and for 7abah is !""M0
and as for 7arawak is also !""M0. The 8akun ?am can produce 1>""M0.
8ack to the transmission sections, there are four ma4or transmission lines sections. The first
transmission is consist of an +K%C that is +igh#voltage alternating current. The +K%C double
circuit overhead lines running over adistance of F" km from 8akun ?am to 7imilan4au 7tatic
Inverter -lant that is situated in east of 8intulu. It is planned to be placed beside the +K?C and
also the 7arawak state electricity grid which is operated by 7arawak $lectricity 7upply
Corporation. The rest of three section consist of bipolar +K?C :"" kK#line. The first section is
started from 7imila4au 7tatic Inverter -lant to Iampung -ueh on 8orneo that is implemented as
overhead line with a length of F)" km.
The third section is the submarine cable that is constructed between Iampung -ueh to Tan4ung
Eeman. It will have a length of F)" km. It is planned to be implemented by = or > parallel cables
37
each with the transmission capacity of )""M0. The fourth or the last section would be located at
the -eninsular Malaysia that will consisit of an overhead direct current .?C/ powerline running
from Tan4ung Eeman to the static inverter plant at 8entong. 0hen the undersea cable is finished,
it will be the longest undersea cable in the world.
(igure #8y end of 1", the 8akun ?am will be 7outh#$ast %sias largest power pro4ect,
capable of generating 1,>""M0 electricity for supply to -eninsular Malaysia, 7abah and
7arawak, 8runei and Ialimantan.
Two converter stations will be built at 8akun ?am and Tan4ung Tenggara as part of the
transmission system. The +K?C lines will connect with the 'ational Grid, Malaysia operated by
Tenaga 'asional 8erhad. %s for the transmission of -eninsular Malaysia, undersea cable or the
submarine cable is needed. The cable is planned and e<pected to transport F""M0 of power
from the 8akun ?am to @ong -eng via undersea +K?C power cables and then to the Malaysian
'ational Grid via land line. The uses of the +K?C giving more benefits because it would ensure
the energy loss is minimal, at about :2 to F2 only. The proposed concept is for 1 < !"" M0
cables being laid about FF" km beneath the 7outh China 7ea from the 7arawak shore to the @ong
-eng on -eninsular Malaysia. The submarine cable pro4ect is e<pected to be finished by 1":.
38
(igure 1 # shows that the transmission line of the power from the 8akun ?am to the $ast
Malaysia and also to the -eninsular Malaysia on the initial plan. The power from the 8akun ?am
will be transmitted to the Iuching and ne<t to the Tan4ung -arih and directly to the Tan4ung
Tenggara.
39
(igure =# This picture taken on 7eptember 1, 1" shows a general view of the power house at
the 8akun +ydroelectric ?am on the 8alui 3iver west of 8elaga in MalaysiaJs 7arawak state on
the island of 8orneo. The first turbine is spinning, electricity is pulsing out, and the water level is
climbing in the 8orneo 4ungle behind MalaysiaJs huge 1.1 billion 67? 8akun hydroelectric dam.
8ut ;uestions continue to swirl around the viability of a pro4ect described by critics as a graft#
plagued human and ecological disaster
8ut recently, there are some issue that the transmission will not be reached on -eninsular
Malaysia because the cost factor that is too high for the construction of the submarine cable. The
(ederal Government in -utra4aya has decided to sell the dam to 7arawak. The 7arawak (ederal
Government has decided to transmit the electricity only to the 7arawak, 7abah, 8runei and
Ialimantan. 7ince the power from the 8akun will not be transmitted to the -eninsular Malaysia,
so the more power plant needed to be build and constructed in -eninsular. This is to make up the
deficit from 8akun.
(rom this issue, the -eninsular could not afford to build the large dams, therefore the ministry
has no choice indeed of approving the new coal#fired plants that will produce """ M0s each.
This will increase the chance of getting pollution. The burning of coal or in the other word the
burning of the fossil fuel, that is will be the main source of the carbon dio<ide will release an ash
and further more will become the part of the greenhouse gases.
In contrast to popular belief, hydroelectric is not a green technology or a source of renewable
energy. %lthough hydroelectric does not involve the burning of fossil fuel .source of carbon
dio<ide, a greenhouse gas/, hydroelectric is instead a source of other greenhouses gases,
primarily methane. Methane is about 1" times more potent than carbon dio<ide in causing global
warming. 0hen huge areas of forest are flooded, this water#logged condition increases the
emission of methane gas from decaying vegetation. The warm, nutrient#rich, and severely
o<ygen#depleted water at the bottom of tropical river dams can create conditions for methane#
producing bacteria which feed on decaying vegetations.
40
USES OF POWER FRO# %A&UN DA#
The uses of power generated from the bakun dam plan for the purpose of metal factory in
8intulu, appro<imately !"km from the dam. This pro4ect is the 4oint venture between ?ubai
%luminium Co, Etd .?ubal/ and Gulf International Investment Group .GIIG/. This metal pro4ect
is e<pected uses :"2 of power from the 8akun ?am. -rincipally the government agreed to sell
F"2 share in the 7arawak +idro to the GIIG. This will make the government lost it speciality in
this pro4ect. In any time government can lost this pro4ect on the imigrant investors.
?ue to the slow progress on the construction of the dam, the metal pro4ect is also stopped. 8ut on
the %ugust 1""), 3io Tinto Group agreed to continue this pro4ect with the venture of Cahya
Mata 7arawak 8erhad .CM78/. It is planned to start on 1"". 5n 'ovember 1""). 7ime ?arby
combine with Golden +ope and Guthrie as one company with the license of 7ynergy with
market capitali&ation of 3M = billion .67? ! billion/. 0ith this new company the 7ime ?arby
take again the management of the 8akun ?am. This pro4ect is aimed to continue the undersea
cable plan to transmit the power from the 8akun ?am to the -eninsular Malaysia.
In 7arawak, a smaller smelter already in operation, is raising environmental concerns. %luminum
smelting is a dirty business, creating air pollution and contaminated wastewater and slag,
although newer technologies are available to reduce them. The construction of hydroelectric is
believe can reduce the pollution eventhough it have it own effect on polluting the environment,
but it not release the naked environment pollution if compared with the smelting pro4ect that
bring towards more pollution.
5UALITY CONTROL
Geological e<perts checked the earth structure of the 8akun hydro#electric pro4ect, including the
safety of the dam wall, during its construction G and have found no sign of danger. %ccording to
the latest findings of e<perts compiled by the developer and manager of the 3M)bil hydro#
electric pro4ect, 7arawak +idro 7dn 8hd, there are no geological faults there.
?aily checks have been carried out to detect any possible weaknesses and movement of the earth
and dam structure during the construction stage. 7arawak +idro chief engineer Pulkifle 5sman
said the 8akun concrete#faced rockfilled dam was the safest type of dam in the world.
41
#egastr26t2re7 An aer0a8 90e: o; the 30ght< %a12n =a3. It has a t:o.8ane roa= at the top
an= o9er8oo1s a reser9o0r that 3eas2res the s0>e o; S0ngapore. ? STEPHEN THEN @ The
Star
CThere should not be any doubts over the safety of the dam. The 8akun dam has =)* instruments
in its foundation to check the pressure of the dam e<erted by the rockfill to check for any
movement of the ground and to tell us how the dam is ,behaving.
CThere are no geological faults in 8akun as initially feared. The riverbed in the 8akun region is
very solid. 7afety measures in place have shown that the finishing work for the dam was very
good,D he told reporters during a comprehensive tour of the dam site last week.
Pulkifle said 8akun has a comprehensive and permanent automated system in place to detect
ground movements throughout its impoundment and operational stages.
0hen the 8akun pro4ect first started, people living downstream of 8akun G from 8elaga, 7ong,
Iapit and 7ibu G had feared that if the dam wall was to break, a tidal tsunami would sweep them
away because behind the dam is a 1":m deep reservoir the si&e of 7ingapore. 0ith the dam now
reaching the end of its construction, 7arawak +idro have sought permission from the 7arawak
government to commence flooding the area.
5nce the water level reaches *:m, the turbines can start working to generate electricity by 9uly
ne<t year, said Pulkifle. +e pointed out that the top priority in 8akun was now to ensure the
42
highest#standard of safety for the operation of the dam, repair of the ecosystem and uplifting the
standard of life of more than :,""" resettled 8akun folk.
5ther priorities include setting up a flood#protection programme for the entire 8akun region,
repairing the loss of biomass and natural habitats and repair the water ;uality, and salvaging
more than =>,""" types of plants and animals.
8elaga assemblyman Eiwan Eagang urged the international community to look at the positive
side of the 8akun pro4ect. CThe 8akun pro4ect has come under intense criticism from
international media and environmentalists, but they did not see its positive benefits. The pro4ect
can help to improve the life of the 8akun people,D he said.
LATEST UPDATE ISSUE OF THE %A&UN DA#
The latest update issue of the 8akun ?am is the completion of the 8akun ?am. The dam start it
construction work on the year of **:. ?uring completion of the pro4ect, the dam have it three
trial on the tenders. 8ut thats not meant that the dam is completely full but it only can generate
electricity to the nearest place and also the nearest country. There newest report that said the dam
now is *)2 done by the ?eputy (inance Minister, ?atuk Eim 7iang Chai on 1" october 1"".
(rom 5ctober >, 1"" the 8akun ?am started to be flooded with water. The flooding process
on the dam needed three month before it can be use to generate electricity. 6nfortunenately, the
dam can only supply energy for the area in 7arawak, 7abah and also outside Malaysia thats is
Ialimantan.
This is because, 7ime ?arby on year 1""* lost 3M .F billion and from this 7arawak
government via 7arawak $nergy once again take place this pro4ect with unstated due date. %bout
the undersea cable, the 7arawak $nergy that take place the pro4ect now has decided to abort the
plan on transmit the power to the -eninsular Malaysia but all the power from the 8akun ?am
will be used ""2 by the 7arawak government and probably will be sell to the nearest country
that is 8runei, 7abah, and 7arawak. +owever, it is not possible that 7arawak government will
proceed the smelting pro4ect with collaboration of overseas country to optimi&e the uses of
8akun ?am. The selling of 8akun ?am make the federal government loses on many aspects
such as money and time. The government has invested much money, but at the end the 7arawak
43
government take that profit. The transmission is fully on 7arawak and also it has more profit by
selling the power of electricity to the other country. The manager of 8akun ?am should continue
the undersea cable construction for -eninsular Malaysia when looking at the re;uirement of
electricity in -eninsular in the coming year.
The electricity is only for industries in the 7arawak Corridor of 3enewable $nergy .7C53$/.
The pro4ect to cable electricity to the -eninsular Malaysia states was shelved due to high costs.
The electricity is only for the benefit of industrial users, residential estates, commercial centres
and offices located hundreds or thousands of km away from the dams. The original resident of
8akun who sacrifice their home doesnt benefits on the electricity. The promise to ensure that the
rest of the >",""" population now located in the surrounding settlements and 8elaga town were
also connected to 8akun to en4oy 1>#hour power supply at cheaper rates. 7arawak $nergy 8hd
and 7arawak +idro, the 8akun dam manager should supply electricity from the dam to these
local folk whose lives had been affected by its construction. 8ut that is a little bit impossible to
be true since there is so many problem regarding the transmission. These settlements will not
benefit from the electricity because they are not connected to the state grid. The dam is
connected directly to the main grid and there is no power line connecting 8akun to the
settlements.
To the completion of the demand on 7arawak Corridor of 3enewable $nergy .7C53$/, there are
planned on construct more dams in 7arawak. The Murum dam, which is more than ::2
completed, is e<pected to start producing power in 1"> for 7C53$Js energy#intensive
industries. It will be complement to the 8akun dam. 8ut the new dam still only giving benefits to
the 7arawak in industries areas and the faith of the 8akun native residents still on the old level
and no improvement.
44
CHAPTER .,
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
0hile the Three Gorges ?am has the potential for great things, one must also consider the
potential conse;uences. 8ut once we have wieghed the benefits and conse;uences, will it make
any differenceQ The Chinese government has invested too much money and time, and has built
up the idea of the dam too much to let this pro4ect die now. The pro4ect will procede, impaling
many people, and destroying ChinaJs Three Gorges area as it goes. Many things will be
45
sacrificed in order to declare ChinaJs political and technological prowess. It may be worth it in
the long run, but in the years following completion, China may have to pick up the pieces of its
brokencommunity.

REFERENCES
000.0III-5?I%.C5M
000.G55GE$.C5M
+IG+0%@ $'GG. 8@ 967T5 M I+%'%
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+IG+0%@ $'GG. 8@ 8.C. -6'MI%
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