NENGGIRI, Kelantan: The negotiations between the Orang Asli community and Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) in Gua Musang, Kelantan over the development of the Nenggiri hydroelectric dam project are ongoing.
TNB Power Generation Sdn Bhd (TNB Genco) project director Dahalil Saad said discussions with the community cannot be completed overnight and daily consultations are held to convince them on the benefits of the development.
"These (negotiations) take time and we engage with them daily to give them a clear picture and better understanding of the project, mainly on how it benefits them.
"Right now, they cannot visualise the positive impact from this project which is why we showed them the foundation of their new homes as well as the trees we have planted in the new area," he told reporters during a media visit to the project site on Tuesday.
The negotiations are not only held between TNB and the Orang Asli community, but it also involves the Kelantan state government.
Following the development of the dam, 245 heads of households from three affected settlements will be relocated, involving more than 1,200 Orang Asli from a total of 17,000 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.
Pos Pulat and Kampung Kuala Wias which have a total of 84 heads of households will move to Plot A that spans 0.4 hectares, while the remaining 161 heads of households from Pos Tohoi will shift to Plot B which is 541.06 hectares.
"They chose the new locations and we also leave it to them to decide on the plants they want to have in the area.
"They have requested for a balcony at the front of their new homes and we will provide that to them," said TNB Genco managing director Muhamad Nazri Pazil.
The construction of the resettlement area for the community commenced in 2022 and is expected for completion by early-2026.
This will be followed by the move of the three villages to their respective areas which is expected to be done by mid-2026.
The development of the dam saw protest from the Orang Asli community in Gua Musang as they said it would demolish their source of income as well as the resting places of their ancestors.
Concerns were also raised by the community on the loss of the historical sites where a prehistoric human skeleton was found.
Researchers from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia discovered a human skeleton along with other artefacts at Gua Keledung Kecil last year that unravelled new facts on the burial process and livelihoods during prehistoric times in Kelantan.
On the heritage preservation efforts in Nenggiri, TNB Genco head corporate affairs Wan Hairul Razli Wan Ahmad Kushaari said all of the artefacts need to be excavated and placed in one gallery in Gua Musang.
This is stated under the Heritage Impact Assessment that was approved by the National Heritage Department in 2018.
Thirteen cave sites are available around the project and of the total, 10 sites will be affected after the first reservoir is built.
Excavation works from the 13 sites were completed in December last year.
Meanwhile, Nazri said the project also provides job opportunities for the locals in Gua Musang, including the Orang Asli community.
He said 2,000 people are needed during the peak period of the development.
Upon completion, between 200 to 250 people are required to maintain the power plant.
"We will prioritise the locals in Gua Musang and the Orang Asli community to ensure they are involved in the project.
"When locals participate in this project, we hope it will lift their spirits and encourage others to also join in," he added.
The Nenggiri hydroelectric dam is slated to commence operations in November 2027.