VOICED: Borneo mega-dam 'nail in the coffin' for local people

The Bakun Mega Dam in Sarawak, Malaysia, completed in 2010, flooded an area the size of Singapore, affecting local villages and their ancestral lands. While the dam aims to industrialize the state by providing electricity, it has led to significant environmental and social challenges, including relocation issues and increased chemical concentration in water. The dam is the first of 13 proposed mega dams, threatening more rainforests and communities.

What was a significant environmental impact of the Bakun Mega Dam's construction?

• Reduction in air pollution

• Increase in local tourism

• Flooding an area the size of Singapore

• Creation of new wildlife habitats

Why did some villages refuse to relocate due to the dam's construction?

• They were promised better compensation

• They were offered new jobs

• They were unaware of the dam's construction

• They wanted to preserve their ancestral land

What was one of the promises made to the relocated residents that was not fulfilled?

• Free healthcare

• More land than they received

• Higher education opportunities

• Employment in the new town

What is a potential environmental risk associated with the dam's operation?

• Higher concentration of chemicals in water

• Increased fish population

• Improved air quality

• Decreased deforestation

What is a long-term plan for the state of Sarawak regarding mega dams?

• To build only one more dam

• To halt all dam constructions

• To construct 13 more mega dams

• To reduce the number of dams to five