GUA MUSANG: Nineteen heads of households still reject the development of the Nenggiri Hydroelectric Dam project, out of the total 245 heads of households from three villages that are affected.
TNB Power Generation Sdn Bhd (TNB Genco) managing director Muhamad Nazri Pazil said there needs to be more engagement with the Orang Asli community to ease their worries on the resettlement at a new location which is expected to take place mid-2026.
He said one of the issues that plague the community is lack of comprehension on the impacts of the project.
"We need to have more exposure and one-on-one meetings with them so they understand what will happen to their village," he told reporters during a media visit to Pos Tohoi here today.
The development of the dam will see 245 heads of households from three affected settlements be relocated, involving more than 1,200 Orang Asli in Gua Musang.
Of the 118 Orang Asli settlements in the state constituency, Pos Tohoi, Pos Pulat and Kampung Kuala Wias are required to move to new locations situated about 30 kilometres from their current area.
Nazri said TNB has allocated about RM10 million worth of compensation for the affected Orang Asli community specifically for the felling of trees to make way for the development.
The compensation includes monetary aid that varies in value depending on the losses incurred to the Orang Asli based on the size of land and plants affected. Other types of compensation provided are infrastructures, new settlement area as well as allowance for their transfer, among others.
"We had two tranches of compensation payments made on August 9 and August 14. All these compensation were agreed upon by the community and the Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa)," he said.
Jakoa director-general Datuk Sapiah Mohd Nor said besides the compensation, the Nenggiri dam will enable the Orang Asli community to generate income from the expected economic growth surrounding the area.
"Their worries on the resettlement stemmed from inaccurate information formation that was provided to them. They did not receive first hand information on the project.
"I am aware that they are concerned on the heritage sites, graves and cultural assets. TNB has taken measures to mitigate the impact and address their concerns," she added.