Tenaga Nasional Berhad has assured that it remains committed to paying compensation for the victims of the Bertam Valley flood in 2013, amid persistent complaints of delays.
It said the High Court in Kuala Lumpur will assess the damages to be paid on Jan 18 next year which will be “a significant step toward a resolution”.
“As a responsible and caring organisation, TNB is committed to supporting and facilitating the compensation process as soon as the High Court reaches its decision,” it said in a statement today in response to Malaysiakini’s queries.
While stating that it empathises with the Bertam Valley residents’ plight, TNB did not address the news portal’s questions on why the process has dragged on for years.
However, it reiterated: “TNB acknowledges the Federal Court's decision on our liability. It is essential for TNB to respect and follow established legal procedures when determining compensation.”
The court found TNB liable for the flood that killed four people, after plaintiffs complained that TNB did not provide adequate warning before releasing water from the Sultan Abu Bakar hydroelectric dam. The court’s deputy registrar will determine the damages to be paid.
The company exhausted its avenues to appeal the decision in 2019.
Nevertheless, the compensation is still yet to be paid to the 100 plaintiffs in the case.
A decade later
On Monday, during a candlelight vigil to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the flood, survivors repeated the longstanding complaint that TNB is resorting to complicated legal procedures to delay the compensation process.
Tanah Rata assemblyperson Ho Chi Yang had urged TNB to provide compensation immediately to put the matter to rest.
In similar complaints made last year, Ho’s predecessor Chiong Yoke Kong claimed TNB had demanded all 100 plaintiffs that sued the company to appear in court to prove their claims, instead of negotiating compensation with the victims' lawyers.
Chiong claimed the process was “completely redundant and unnecessary” because lawyer M Manogaran had already collected the plaintiffs’ police reports and receipts.
TNB responded to those complaints by saying it is sympathetic to the survivors’ plight but is obliged to follow legal due process, and the damages were to be assessed by the court from May 23 to 27, 2022. - Mkini
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