Malaysia dam stirs heated debate

March 31, 1996
Web posted at: 5:20 p.m. EST (2220 GMT)

RAJANG RIVER, Malaysia (CNN) -- The Malaysan government says the Bakun Dam under construction on the Rajang River will produce electricity and be a boon for the economy.

Environmentalists and human rights groups argue that it's unnecessary and will force a native tribe to relocate.

Unless the conflicts are resolved, the dam that would be one of the world's largest may never be completed. The structure would flood an area the size of Singpore on the island of Borneo.

The government maintains that without the dam, rapid industrialization won't take place and Malaysia's economic growth will stagnate. If growth continues without the dam, Malaysia's energy reserves will be depleted by 2003, officials say.

Malaysia intends to pipe electricity generated by the dam through the world's longest underwater cable beneath the South China Sea. The cable would be 640 kilometers (397 miles) long.

But Kua Kia Soong, a Malaysian human rights activist, feels the government is ignoring the dam's impact on people. (162K AIFF sound or 162K WAV sound)

And environmental opponents say the dam will be obsolete in 50 years because of piles of heavy silt building up in the river's fast-moving waters. They maintain Malaysia has enough gas and oil reserves without damming the country's longest river.

The Malaysian government has commissioned an environmental study and offered to meet with interested citizens. The results of the environmental impact studies are being kept confidential, however, angering citizens who say they are not being consulted or informed about the dam's implications.

Although the government says it is willing to consult with local residents, it insists the dam will be completed, regardless.

"For those of you who expressed concern must also be prepared to come out with specific recommendations on what viable alternative energy can be suggested. And now that we've chosen to proceed with the Bakun Dam project, we have taken all possible measures," said Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

The World Wide Fund for Nature is demanding that Malaysia suspend construction of the dam until government officials have met with local citizens and activists.

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