Malaysia's Country Report during the ASEAN People's Forum at the 'Impacts of ASEAN on Indigenous Peoples' jointly organized by the Indigenous Peoples Networks of Malaysia (JOAS) and the Asia Indigenous Peoples' Pact (AIPP) on Friday, 24th April 2015 at Suite 2, 13th Floor, Wisma MCA, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Presented by JOAS President Thomas Jalong.

1. Energy Development
for Whom and at
Whose Expense?
CHALLENGING THE ASEAN ENERGY AGENDA AND
ASSERTING OUR RIGHTS TO SELF-DETERMINATION

3. ‘Alphabet Soup’ of ASEAN
Power Planning
MPAC: Master Plan for ASEAN Connectivity
IMT-GT: Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle
BIMP-EAGA: Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-The
Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area
HAPUA: Heads of ASEAN Power Utilities/Authorities
ADB: Asian Development Bank

4. Flagship & Priority Projects
 Melaka-Pekanbaru Power Interconnection (Malaysia to
Sumatra)
 Sarawak - West Kalimantan (Trans-Borneo Power Grid)
 East Sabah - East Kalimantan
 Sabah - Philippines

5. A Questionable Official Narrative
 The ASEAN Power Grid is
supposed to “promote more
efficient, economic, and secure
operation of power systems
through harmonious development
of national electricity networks in
ASEAN by region-wide
interconnections”
 But the reality in our communities
tells a different story…

6. Justifying Mega-Dams
 Building high voltage transmission lines
across borders means the power is not
for local consumption. It prioritizes the
economic demands of industry and
justifies building more mega-dams.
 According to ASEAN policy makers:
“To meet the fast growing demand for
electricity and expectation of affordable
electricity tariffs in the region, the
development of large scale power
generation plants such as hydropower
and geothermal option are indispensible.”

7. Photos of
dams and
transmission
lines

9. Living under the Trans-Borneo grid
(Mambong-W. Kalimantan)
 Fact-finding mission launched in January 2015
 Key findings:
 Sarawak Energy Berhad has failed to hold meaningful
community consultations and to obtain the free, prior and
informed consent by the affected Bidayuh and Iban
indigenous communities
 The compensation offered by the Sarawak Energy has been
inadequate and in some cases, non-existent
 Sarawak Energy has failed to provide an accessible,
transparent grievance mechanism

10. Taking Steps Across Borders to
Organize & Mobilize to Ensure
Respect Of Our Rights to Land, Life
& Dignified Livelihood…

12. Taking Action to Protest the ASEAN
Energy Agenda of Mega-Dams and
Asserting our Right to Self-
Determination
 Petitions have been submitted to Government authorities
 Ongoing legal actions: court cases are being prepared and continue to be filed
 Road blockades and street protests
 Reports to the police and Anti-Corruption Commission
 Visit to the Asian Development Bank to urge them not to finance the transmission
lines
 Submissions to the UN Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Peoples’ Rights
 Press statements against the dams and transmission lines nationally and
internationally