GOPENG, March 1 ― Operators offering whitewater rafting here are worrited their investments, some amounting to hundreds of thousands of ringgit, will evaporate with the construction of a mini hydroelectric dam in Ulu Geruntum here.

There are six firms offering the rafting activities that are popular with both local and foreign visitors. All are concerned about the future of their businesses once the dam is complete.

The founder and owner of Nomad Adventure Sdn Bhd, Chan Yuen-Li, said the water from Sungai Geruntum that flows into the Sungai Kampar, a prized location for the whitewater rafting in the country, is no longer safe for rafting.

“The river has been flooding often since last month and we have also seen mud filled with debris like logs, tree stumps and clumps of bamboo washed away in the river. It was a terrifying sight.

Advertisement

“If this situation continues, the lives of water rafting participants are at risk,” she told Malay Mail.

Chan alleged that the river began flooding after construction started for the hydroelectric dam upstream, as the contractor is suspected of pushing debris from land clearing into the stream.

The pioneer of whitewater rafting sport here said the rumours of this project have been circulating for about six years, but no details have ever been openly shared.

Advertisement

“We only got to know about the project when the land clearing activity reached Kampung Sungai Kapor Baru. The contractor cut through a back road from the jungle of Jelintoh to the village,” she said.   

Chan said there was also no public consultations with any of the eco-tourism operators in the affected area.

She said they have no idea how the project will affect the local environment or if the firm responsible even conducted an impact assessment prior to beginning its work.

A 15-year veteran of the business, Chan said Sungai Kampar is by far the best river for water rafting activity in Southeast Asia.

“We have customers coming from Hong Kong, Singapore, Macau, Australia and Middle East,” she said. 

Another whitewater rafting operator, Gurnam Singh, said the main concern for operators was the water levels in the rivers.

Also complaining about the lack of information from government officials, he said the operators have no idea where the dammed rivers will be channelled to once the construction is complete.

“If the water does not bypass the section where we're doing white water rafting, then we will be gravely affected,” he said, explaining that this would limit the operators to only rainy seasons.

“However, it's difficult to predict the weather and we can't wait for the rainy season to do our business.

He added that any decline in tourists will not just hurt the rafting firms, but also tour guides, caterers, chalet owners and transportation firms that provide ancillary services.

Perak officials including Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir all declined to comment on the issue.