SOS Selangor is a group of individuals concerned with preserving the environment around Selangor river. Here's what they say...

We do not need a two billion dollar dam.

Malaysia receives some of the highest rainfall in the world: there is enough water for everyone.

The dam will cause irreversible damage to the environment...

• One of only two firefly colonies in the WORLD is threatened with extinction.
• 600 hectares will be logged and then drowned. That's an area the size of Subang Jaya.
• 360 Orang Asli will have to leave their homes and their way of life. Forever.
• One of our most successful eco-tourism industries will disappear.
• An estimated 50,000 Malaysians go to Kuala Kubu Bharu annually. They and future generations will lose a prime recreational site.

• 3 privatised projects involving water supply and/or dams have failed recently? These are the Bakun dam, the Sabah and Kelantan water projects. They have been handed back to the State. Why should the Selangor dam be any different especially when we know that the contractors involved are all in tight financial positions? If this happens, we the taxpayers will have to pay for their failure again.
• The World Bank does not finance dam projects any more is the reason for the privatisation of the dam project. Dams are considered “outdated technology” because of their adverse effects on the environment and the destruction of the lives of the indigenous peoples as well as other downstream residents. Dams have been banned in many of the developed countries today.
• Ampang Pecah got its name from the collapse of the then much smaller dam in 1883 at the site where the government plans to build the new dam. Twenty five people died in that tragedy, the towns downstream were flooded with mud and water. This RM2 billion Sungai Selangor dam will probably be the highest dam in Malaysia – 110 metres high, 800 metres wide and drowning 600 ha of rainforest.
• High Erosion Risk Area. This dam(n) site is a high erosion risk area and this creates potential landslides to the dam, as well as, hastening the process of siltation which will shorten the life of the dam. The cost of the dam does not include the cost of decommissioning the dam when it ceases to function because of siltation or when it is plagued by water hyacinth.
• Where is the emergency plan for evacuation if the dam breaks?  In the event of the collapse of the dam, any responsible government will have an emergency plan for the evacuation of the people living downstream. Such a plan must specify the speed in which the respective areas downstream will be flooded and the scenario for emergency evacuation. Given the way in which disasters have been handled recently – Highland Towers, Pos Dipang – can we feel confident that the government would be able to handle a disaster at Sungai Selangor?

• Water conservation would immediately cut the overall demand for water. Serious water conservation campaign should be carried out by the government. If not, how can they insist that the demand for water will continue to rise? Malaysia is among the world’s most blessed countries as far as rainfall and water catchments are concerned.
• Clean up our rivers – Other countries manage to use recycled water from their rivers without the need to build dams. Despite our ample rainfall and rainforests, hardly any of our rivers are clean enough to be used to supply treated water. The government must attempt to make use of recycled river water before telling us we need the dam.
• Repiping the water network – Government sources say that as much as 30% to 40% of treated water is lost through leaky pipes, faulty metres, theft and other non-revenue uses. Thus far, no move has been made to solve this problem. 
• Using water from existing lakes and dams – We have submitted well-researched alternatives to the govt which are cheaper and quicker than building the dam. These involve piping water from existing sources in Perak as well as the Kenyir dam in Trengganu.

• Increase efficiency in water distribution and usage. 
• Make better use of rainwater.
• Pipe water from Sg Perak (estimated cost RM520 million) or from Tasek Kenyir (RM1.7 billion)
• Use the RM2 billion to clean up the Klang and Gombak river systems.

Full details pertaining to the proposed dam,
visit Save Sg Selangor website. Or call information line 03-700 6660.

Feedback Welcomed!

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