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Polluting industries should be sited away from human settlements

  • Publication Date | October 26, 2020
  • Document Type | Media Statement
  • Programmes | Development & Planning
  • Issues | Planning, Pollution, Urban Development
  • Tags | DoE, EIA, Guidelines for Siting and Zoning of Industry and Residential Areas, Kampong Jenjarom, Kuala Langat, Town and Country Planning
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It is vital for polluting industries to be sited away from human settlements as it is clear from the recent Sungei Kim Kim episode and other cases where communities living close to industries suffer from ill health and harm due to chemicals and other hazardous substances emitting from such industries.

It is true that prior to October 2017, the Department of Environment (DOE) had some guidelines on this called the 2012 Guidelines for Siting and Zoning of Industry and Residential Areas (SZIRA). Under this Guideline, the general guide for the buffer zone between heavy industries and residential areas was a minimum of 300 m or more and actual buffer zones were to be set based on modelling studies. Depending on the type of industries, the minimum buffer zone could be more such as for e.g. for manufacture of chemicals could be between 500 m to 600 m, and the final buffer zone was to be determined by modelling studies.

It is to be noted that these guidelines were meant as a guide for planning authorities, including the local authorities and project owners in their consideration of the site selection for industries in relation to residential areas. They were also applicable in the consideration of approvals for Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) by the DOE.  

In fact, on a query by SAM to the DOE regarding these guidelines in 2018, we were informed that the determination of the exact buffer zone for industries and monitoring in this regard is vested with the local authorities, who are responsible for approving any development plans under the Town and Country Planning Act 1976.

We were informed that the 2017 Environmental Essentials for Siting of Industries in Malaysia (EESIM) was what needs to be referred to and that this ‘guidance document’ does not specify the distances and the buffer zones between industries and residential areas as this was under the purview of the local authority.

We are aware that the local councils in Selangor abide by the Selangor State Manual Guideline and Planning Standard 2016. 

It is indeed unfortunate that the Selangor Manual allows for shorter distances of 300 m buffer for heavy industries and 150 m for medium industries. 

This is indeed regrettable as our experience has shown that such short distances are not effective to stem public health and harm as well as public nuisance to communities living nearby.

SAM has received several major complaints from communities who have been protesting against polluting factories such as that in the district of Kuala Langat from paper recycling plants as well as from communities in Kampung Jenjarom also in Kuala Langat who have been fighting a lead-acid battery plant here. These communities have complained of illegal discharges of waste effluents from the factory and are also concerned of emissions from the paper recycling plants when it is in full operation.  Cumulative exposure to environmental pollutants will have detrimental effects on the health of the nearby communities, especially children, the elderly and vulnerable population.

It is time for the Selangor Town and Country Planning Department to review the manual and impose bigger distances in terms of the buffer zones required and use the 2012 DOE guidelines and the 2017 guide to prevent conflicts between the local communities and the factories. This review should also apply to the guidelines of all local authorities and not just Selangor alone. 

Plan Malaysia and all local authorities should be stricter in ensuring that citizens in residential areas are free from environmental pollution and harm from industrial activity. 

The public has a right to a clean environment, and it is the responsibility of our authorities to fulfil their duties in protecting every citizen and to safeguard access to clean air and water and to ensure good environmental quality. 

Meenakshi Raman

President

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Testimonials

Sahabat Alam Malaysia adalah satu badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) yang telah sekian lama berjuang mempertahan kelestarian alam. Ia juga mendidik masyarakat tentang pentingnya kebersamaan dalam pemikiran dan tindakan agar alam ini dapat kita wariskan kepada generasi hadapan dalam keadaan yang elok dan terpelihara. Dalam pada itu juga SAM giat membantu golongan nelayan pantai dalam memperjuangkan hak-hak mereka sehinggalah tertubuhnya Persatuan Pendidikan dan Kebajikan Nelayan Pantai Malaysia (JARING). Nelayan pantai sepenuh masa ini dididik oleh SAM sehingga mereka mampu memainkan peranan sebagai pemimpin nelayan yang meneruskan kesinambungan memperjuangkan hak-hak nelayan pantai lainnya. Sebagai contoh SAM telah berjaya menyedarkan masyarakat nelayan keperluan menjaga hutan paya bakau untuk kebaikan hasil tangkapan nelayan itu sendiri.
Jamaluddin Mohamad Bualik
Jamaluddin Mohamad BualikPersatuan Pendidikan dan Kebajikan Jaringan Nelayan Pantai Malaysia (JARING)
During the 1980s, I used to read about the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) in the news. After retirement, some time in 2001, while lazing around, I read news about the construction of a carbon in leach plant using sodium cyanide to extract gold in Bukit Koman. My friends and I visited CAP and we were introduced to SAM and her legal team. We discussed the details of filing a case against the gold mining company and the department of environment with Ms Meenakshi Raman and her legal team. That was the beginning of a beautiful friendship between lawyers from SAM and many of us from Bukit Koman. We had many ups and downs in our struggle to shut down the gold mine that was causing a nuisance in our village. But, as a community we never gave up because SAM had our backs.
Hue Fui How
Hue Fui HowSecretary, Bukit Koman Ban Cyanide in Goldmining Action Committee (BCAC)
Sahabat Alam Malaysia adalah sebuah NGO yang memperjuangkan nasib masyarakat luar bandar khasnya. SAM menerima aduan-aduan masyarakat dan menyelesaikan masalah yang dihadapi. SAM telah mewujudkan ramai aktivis-aktivis sosial dan alam sekitar. Pada era 1980 dan 90an SAM sangat dihormati oleh masyarakat dan agensi kerajaan. Apabila media sosial menguasai maklumat maka SAM pun terkesan dan masalah masyarakat terus disalurkan dengan pelbagai cara. SAM perlu mewujudkan aktivis-aktivis pelapis yang muda untuk terus membantu masyarakat. SAM juga perlu membuat perubahan supaya banyak turun kelapangan dan jangan mengharapkan laporan media sahaja. Tingkatkan prestasi sebagaimana pada zaman kegemilangan SAM di era 80-90an.
Che Ani Mt Zain
Che Ani Mt Zain
SAM taught me the importance of social activism and the role it plays in upholding the rights of people and the protection of the environment. In my experience, SAM has never hesitated to speak up in defence of people and their environment, and has gone the extra mile to champion their rights, by helping communities take their battles to the higher ups and even to the courts.
Jessica Binwani
Jessica BinwaniPublic/Private Interest Lawyer
Semenjak kami kenal SAM, banyak pengalaman dan pengetahuan yg kami dapat. Kami telah belajar cara membuat baja asli daripada SAM. Semenjak itu, bermulalah minat kami dalam aktiviti pertanian. Dengan memperolehi kemahiran dalam membuat baja asli dan penanaman lestari, kami juga telah dapat menambahkan pendapatan sampingan kami. Ini lebih baik daripada tanah kami terbiar dan tidak diusahakan. Terima kasih SAM kerana sudi memberi bantuan dan tunjuk ajar kepada Persatuan kami.
Chedo Anak Nyuwen
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My journey with SAM started when her community organisers took me to the meet the paddy farmers of Kedah, connecting my growing interest in environmental law with our people who struggle to work the land in the face of pollution, replacement of traditional seeds with commercial hybrids and their accompanying chemical package of fertilisers and weedicides. I then had the honour to work with SAM in the struggle for the rights of the native communities of Sarawak, in defence of their forests from massive logging and destructive mega-projects. In every issue that SAM takes up, she combines rigorous research with the realities and voices of the communities to advocate for policies and laws that care for people and nature. From the courts to the elected legislators to policy makers and implementers and to the United Nations, SAM walks side by side with the communities in Malaysia. How can I not be inspired by the vision and passion of the generations of women and men who coalesce to form SAM?
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Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Headquarters)
No. 1, Jalan Joki, 11400 Penang,
Malaysia
Tel: +604 827 6930
Fax: +604 827 6932

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Marudi Office)
129A, First Floor,
Jalan Tuanku Taha,
P.O.Box 216,
98058 Marudi, Baram, Sarawak,
Malaysia
Tel & Fax: +6085 758 973

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