THERE is no stopping the mini-hydroelectric dam in Ulu Geruntum in Gopeng, Perak, as the project was approved by the previous Barisan Nasional administration and the government is legally bound by the agreement, said an assemblyman.

Teja assemblyman Sandrea Ng told The Malaysian Insight that while Pakatan Harapan promised to scrap the project during its campaign in the general election, the state government, however, was compelled to proceed with the project.

“During the GE14 campaign, one of the pledges was that if we were given the mandate, we would stop the project.

“But although we have taken over the government, we have a legal responsibility to see the agreement through.

“Now the case is in the high court but the sole decision is in the hands of the state government (to approve it),” Ng said.

The Semai Orang Asli in Ulu Geruntum are angry that Perak has failed to scrap a mini-hydroelectric project that encroaches on their ancestral land.

The tribe was hoping PH would reverse BN’s decision to situate the hydro dam in the lush jungles where they have lived for decades.

Despite calls from the tribe, activists and civil society groups to stop the project, the state government last year gave the green light for it to resume.

BN approved 25 mini-hydro projects across the state in 2012 and six more a year later, all of which would cost RM2.92 billion.

Ng said the government had immediately after the elections engaged with the stakeholders to address the issue.

“Before GE14 the project was suspended by the BN government. Then after the elections the state started to engage with all the stakeholders.

“The state then appointed the exco to prepare a report on the project. Between 2018 and 2019 we had a few meetings with the Ulu Geruntum tok batin, civil society groups, contractor and all the agencies.”

The sticking point, she said, was that the agreement had been signed by the former government.

She said that the state, after listening to them all, decided to go ahead with the projects.

“But it also did form a monitoring committee that is headed by environment exco Dr Aziz Bari.”

Ng said the state took into consideration the concerns raised by the Orang Asli and tourism players on the project’s impact on the environment.

“This was our main concern (environment). Because during the engagements with all the agencies, they all gave positive feedback on the project.

“So when the state made the decision, it was confident that there would be no environmental impact.

“We are also well aware that the community is upset that we can’t put a stop to this. But we are doing what we can to monitor the environment and prevent any issue when the project resumes.”

Ng said for now there is no stop-work order unless the court issues an injunction to halt work legally.

The Semai have been fighting to have the project scrapped because they fear it will destroy the local ecosystem and their livelihoods.

There are about 900 Semai residents living in eight villages in the vicinity of the project.

The villagers have protested against the project since it was announced in 2012 that a contract has been awarded to a company to build 31 mini-dams along three rivers, including Sg Kampar.

They have also filed to the court to stop the project but the suit is pending. – February 4, 2020.