Press Releases Excess energy - Bakun should be called off 16 Feb 2000 Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) appeals to the Federal Government of Malaysia and the State Government of Sarawak to cancel altogether the recently downsized Bakun Hydroelectric Project in Belaga, Sarawak. We are making this call in view of the statement made by the Deputy Chief Minister of Sarawak, Datuk Amar Dr. George Chan in the New Straits Times yesterday that the Sarawak State Government does not want to build a hydro dam project which would not be proportionate to the demand. As a result, the State has yet to decide on the size of the controversial multi-billion ringgit Bakun. First and foremost, the cancellation of the 600km undersea transmission cables to the Peninsular has already resulted in the reduction of the energy production capacity of the dam -- from 2,400 MW to 700 MW. This is still said to be excessive for Sarawak as the State is already generating about 700 MW of electricity presently with a capacity for expansion up to 1,000 MW -- sufficient to cater to the energy needs of the State. This clearly shows that Bakun does not have to come into existence for Sarawak or Malaysia at all. Large dams are known to cause massive environmental and ecological destruction. Now there are already well-documented reports of the social, cultural, economic and nutritional problems that the displaced indigenous communities, who previously were living by the Balui River, are facing in their new resettlement scheme in Sg. Asap. Should the Government continue to build and finance such an environmentally hazardous and socially disruptive dam that Malaysia does not need? In the light of the above, there is really no logic for Tenaga Nasional Berhad and Sarawak Electricity Supply Corporation, the present project contractors, to assess the potential demand in the east Asean region simply because Sarawak herself cannot absorb the excess capacity of a downsized Bakun. There is no justification for the Bakun Hydroelectric Project. Much of the taxpayers' money has been spent, it is irrational for us to continue wasting public funds for something that is expensive, environmentally degrading and socially disturbing when there is no urgent local demand for it. Although the diversion tunnels are said to be 75 per cent completed, it is better for us to mitigate the losses that have already been incurred instead of compounding the problem further. Malaysia does not need another white elephant. In view of all these factors, SAM calls for the scrapping of the totally unnecessary Bakun Hydroelectric Project.