Protest Proposed Small Hydro-electric Project Upstream of Sungkai River, Sungkai Province, Batang Padang District, Perak

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) urges the Perak State authorities to scrap the small hydroelectric project proposed to be built upstream of the Sungkai River in Sungkai Province, Batang Padang District, state of Perak.

SAM calls upon the State to consider the plight of the Orang Asli community in Sungkai Province who do not agree and object to the proposed small hydropower project here.

The Orang Asli community in Sungkai Province do not stand to gain any benefits from the implementation of the proposed project as with other projects involving their territorial customary land.

SAM, along with residents of six Orang Asli villages in the province of Sungkai hope that the State Authority will study and consider the basis of objections as contained in the memorandum which was submitted to the Chief Minister of Perak on May 16, 2014.

As a follow-up, today SAM and six Tok Batins representing the residents of the six Orang Asli villages in the province of Sungkai visited the Office of the Chief Minister of Perak to emphasize that we are not agreeable to the proposed small hydroelectric dam project to be built upstream of the Sungkai River.

We hope that the State Authority seriously considers the objection of the Orang Asli communities here.

 

Press Statement, 30 July 2015