‘Trusan dam go-ahead a blow to Adenan’s legacy’

KUCHING: The announcement by Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg that the government is giving the goahead for the Trusan Dam to be built came as a surprise to many, including Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB) chairman Datuk Amar Abdul Hamed Sapawi, said state PKR chairman Baru Bian.

Baru, who is Ba Kelalan assemblyman, said he did not expect that the government would still plan to build more dams, especially since its previous policy was not to pursue any more dam-building following the acquisition of Bakun Dam.

“The late chief minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem had said categorically that there is no need for more big dams, and his statement was widely reported. It appears that the words of the late Adenan carry little weight now, and the assurances made by his government count for nothing,” he said in a press statement yesterday.

Baru recalled that in the November 2014 State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting, when he asked about the status of the thenproposed Lawas and Trusan dams, then Minister of Public Utilities Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan replied that ‘both dams are still in the feasibility study stage. When the projects reach the next stage, a full Social and Environmental Impact Assessment (SEIA) will be conducted.’

“To my surprise, I read yesterday (Monday) that SEB Chairman Hamid Sepawi had said that the feasibility studies for the Trusan Dam were completed four years ago.”