New homes for Orang Asli affected by Nenggiri project
KUALA LUMPUR: The Orang Asli community in Pos Tohoi, Pos Pulat and Kampung Kuala Wias affected by the Nenggiri Hydroelectric Power Plant project in Gua Musang, Kelantan, is expected to be relocated to new settlements at two locations spanning over 2,000ha by mid-2026.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said 250 from 280 household heads have agreed to a compensation package and relocation plan, while the remaining 30 were still engaged in negotiations.
He said the package included comfortable housing with infrastructure and modern facilities, rubber plantations and orchards for them to generate income, relocation allowance and logistics assistance, and temporary monthly living allowances in the interim period before the plantation produces yield.
“To ensure the local community interests, Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) has conducted various engagement sessions and corporate social responsibility programmes within the proposed project site since 2014, especially with the Orang Asli community.
“Over 30 engagement sessions were held, including sessions hosted by the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam),” he said when winding up the debate on the motion for Suhakam’s Annual Report and Financial Statement for 2021 and 2022 in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday.
Fadillah, who is also Energy Transition and Water Transformation minister, said TNB will provide additional cash if the compensation does not fully cover losses incurred by the participants, especially due to loss of crops.
He said all cash payments, including compensation for crops, are expected to be disbursed by 2026 before the villagers relocate to the new settlements.
Fadillah added that TNB has also identified other villages, such as Kampung Depak, Kampung Bering, Kampung Lama Gemalah, Kampung Tinjing and Kampung Guling, where only a small part of the plantations were affected, and relocation was not necessary.
“TNB started to conduct an initial assessment of losses at the end of 2023, and the compensation management process is expected to start after July.”
On the water supply issue in Kelantan, he said the Machang water treatment plant project, which will treat raw water from the Machang riverside water reservoir, is expected to be completed in April 2029.
He added that a RM20 million study on water resources development in the state is underway and is expected to be completed in October. – Bernama