The Mega-Dam That Drowned 10,000 People's Homes

Nearly 10,000 people were relocated to make room for Bakun Dam in Malaysian Borneo. What did this enormous engineering project deliver—and what did the communities who moved have to rebuild? Standing 205 metres high, Bakun created a reservoir covering 695 square kilometres. Its electricity ambitions once included an undersea connection to Peninsular Malaysia. That connection was cancelled, while the dam became a major source of power for Sarawak. This Beastly Countdown documentary follows the story from engineering scale to relocation and human consequences: the move to Sungai Asap, replacement farmland, compensation, changing livelihoods, and the lasting relationship with ancestral land. We also examine Bakun’s role today, including its contribution to industrial development and more recent efforts to address community concerns. Some visuals are AI-generated illustrations or reconstructions, rather than archival footage. Historical research findings are presented in their time context. Subscribe to Beastly Countdown for documentaries about extraordinary places, ambitious engineering, and the people whose lives they change. What should a major project guarantee for affected communities before relocation begins? Share your thoughts below. #BakunDam #Malaysia #BeastlyCountdown