BFM 89.9

HIGHLIGHTS 
Podcast  >  Bigger Picture  >  Earth Matters  >  The Big Trouble With Small(er) Dams

The Big Trouble With Small(er) Dams

Ashley Yeong, Writer, Macaranga | Wong Siew Lyn, Co-founder & Editor, Macaranga | Piarapakaran Subramaniam, President, Association of Water and Energy Research Malaysia (AWER)

10-Jan-24 15:00

The Big Trouble With Small(er) Dams

In Malaysia's race towards achieving 70% renewable energy by 2050, hydroelectric power claims 11% of that share. More mini-hydroelectric dams are being built, as they are cheaper, and said to have less environmental impact. In Perak, the state government has awarded 31 mini-hydro projects in the state involving 49 rivers, but several have already impacted and are in conflict with several indigenous communities there. This is being explored in Macaranga's latest article, Perak Dams Threaten Stone Spirits and Ancestral Graves, and we discuss the clash between renewable energy goals and indigenous communities with Ashley Yeong, the writer of the article, and also with Wong Siew Lyn (editor and co-founder, Macaranga) and Piarapakaran Subramaniam (President, Association of Water and Energy Research Malaysia (AWER).


Image Credit: Ashley Yeong

Produced by: Juliet Jacobs

Presented by: Juliet Jacobs


This and more than 60,000 other podcasts in your hand. Download the all new BFM mobile app.

Categories:  technologypoliticsgovernmentenvironmentcorruptioncontroversies

Tags:  renewable energyhydroelectric damulu gerumtum mini hydro damperakorang asli rightsFPICmacarangaawersustainable development





Play / Pause

Listen now : Top 5 at 5

Today’s Shows



6:00 AM

The 6AM Stretch

Thought-provoking discussions on ideas, people and events shaping our lives.

7:00 AM

World Market Watch

Tim Mulholland, President, TJM Limited tells us where international markets are heading.

7:15 AM

Morning Brief

We recap global and local headlines from today's papers and portals.

7:30 AM

Morning Brief

Imran Yusof, Head of Research at MBSB Research weighs in on Malaysia’s tourism outlook and growth strategies ahead of Visit Malaysia 2026.

7:45 AM

Morning Brief

Lawyer Haniff Khatri explains the Federal Court's decision to dismiss Semantan Estates' appeal in the long-running legal saga.

8:00 AM

The Breakfast Grille

Eric Fan, CEO of Bridge Data Centres, discusses how the company is expanding across Southeast Asia to meet the region’s rising demand for data centres and AI infrastructure.

8:30 AM

Morning Brief

James Chin, Professor of Asian Studies at the University of Tasmania, explains what's at stake for the Sabah elections taking place at the end of November.

8:45 AM

Morning Brief

(REPEAT) We dive into the local and international news that matters to you.

9:00 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) Tim Mulholland, President, TJM Limited tells us where international markets are heading.

9:15 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) Imran Yusof, Head of Research at MBSB Research weighs in on Malaysia’s tourism outlook and growth strategies ahead of Visit Malaysia 2026.

9:35 AM

What's The Focus

We wrap up the week’s biggest conversations to keep you in the know.

10:05 AM

Open For Business

Azuar Zainuddin, CEO, Satu Creative

11:00 AM

Mattsplained

Matt Armitage, Founder, Kulturpop

12:00 PM

Enterprise Explores

Dickson Woo, Country General Manager & Technology Leader, IBM Malaysia

1:00 PM

The Breakfast Grille Repeat

Our flagship show, we feature both game-changers and groundbreakers in the hot seat.

2:05 PM

Discovery Hour

An eclectic selection of BBC shows, curated with variety in mind.

3:05 PM

Front Row

Singapore Ballet returns with Ballet Illuminations 2025, featuring works by Choo-San Goh, Edmund Stripe, and Janek Schergen. We find out what's in store.

3:20 PM

Front Row

Ode to the Lifestream celebrates the iconic Final Fantasy VII soundtrack with a nine-piece ensemble. Sylvie Wong and Qayyum Bin Zainal share what to expect.

3:35 PM

Front Row

The ILHAM Art Show 2025 returns with 20 artists exploring memory, identity, nature, and the future. ILHAM’s Rahel Joseph shares what to expect.

4:05 PM

Health & Living

Nuclear medicine now allows doctors to “see what they treat and treat what they see”. We explore how this could change outcomes for men with advanced prostate cancer.

5:00 PM

Top 5 at 5

6:00 PM

Popcorn Culture

We review Edgar Wright's Running Man and Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein, before discussing adaptations and remakes that bring something fresh to the table..

7:00 PM

Just For Kicks

8:00 PM

Bar None

9:00 PM

The Selector