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Respect the law and do not commit the government and the people to the SRS reclamation project

  • Publication Date | July 16, 2020
  • Document Type | Media Statement
  • Programmes | Development & Planning
  • Issues | Coastal Development, Fisheries, Planning, Reclamation, Transport, Urban Development
  • Tags | Appeal Board, EIA, Penang South Reclamation, PSR
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The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) and Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) call on the Penang state government to respect and abide by the legal process with regard to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) embodied in the Environmental Quality Act 1974 (EQA).  There is an appeal in the Appeal Board set up under the EQA challenging the approval of the EIA by the Department of Environment (DOE).

The signing of the agreement with the project delivery partners for the SRS project and the statement of the Penang Chief Minister yesterday that the PSR project will commence in February next year, even before the appeal has been heard, is to treat with contempt the rights given by law to our citizens. The government must remember that ours is a nation based on the rule of law.

We would like to remind the state government that sometime in July last year, representatives of fishermen from Sungai Batu in Teluk Kumbar, led by Mr. Zakaria bin Ismail, filed an appeal under the EQA, which allows parties who are aggrieved by the decision of the DOE in approving the EIA to take the matter up to the Appeal Board set up under the Act.

A hearing is pending in the Appeal Board against the decision of the then DOE Director-General granting conditional approval of the project’s EIA. Until the appeal is concluded and the legal issues resolved, the state government must respect the law and not proceed with the PSR project.

Otherwise, the law and the appeal process would be made a mockery.

The State government appears to be bent on proceeding with the PSR project without any regard for the legal challenge by the fishing community, and the objections to the project from civil society organisations based on sound grounds.

The Sungai Batu fishermen have challenged the appeal on various grounds, including that the DOE’s approval of the EIA was premature as it was not complete and had not taken into account the recommendations of the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA).

Among the recommendations of the MOA include that the State government conduct further studies on the impact of dredging and reclamation of the project on the white prawn population and the impact of noise on fish due to these activities. It also recommended that the state gazette a fishery conservation zone along the coastline from Pulau Betong to Teluk Bahang, as well as to gazette the Middle Bank as fisheries protected area.

Another ground of appeal is that the DOE’s condition on the State to ensure offset programmes are in place to mitigate the losses of the fishing communities are not sufficient, as they do not have the ability to replace the function of the natural habitats that will be destroyed by the reclamation project.

A further ground is that there has been no consideration as to how the PSR project undermines Malaysia’s obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Sustainable Development Goals.

These are substantial grounds and the matter could be litigated right up to the Federal Court.

If the fisher folk succeed in their challenge, then the EIA approval would not be valid, and the project cannot proceed without a valid approval under the law.

Is the government trying to create facts on the ground in the hope of influencing the Board in deciding the challenge?

We reiterate our call for the state government to respect and comply with the legal process and not proceed as if the legal challenge can be disregarded and has no merit, as this is for the Appeal Board under the EQA to determine.

On the Bonds Issue

On the issue of Penang not being able to issue bonds without Federal government approval, the Chief Minister has responded that “It was the banks who proposed it and they said they were fine with the state acting as guarantor. It was the banks who were pursuing it.” The state cannot be a guarantor without Federal Government  approval. It is prohibited by the unambiguous words of Article 111(3) of the Federal Constitution which reads:

“A State shall not give any guarantee except under the authority of State law, and such guarantee shall not be given except with the approval of the Federal Government and subject to such conditions as may be specified by it”.

The Chief Minister should seek advice on the matter from the Attorney General and not listen to the bankers who are only interested in making profits, unconcerned about the welfare of the people.

Mohideen Abdul Kader

President, Consumers Association of Penang

Meenakshi Raman

President, Sahabat Alam Malaysia

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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
Chedo Anak NyuwenPersatuan Penduduk Sg Buri, Bakong, Marudi
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?
Chee Yoke Ling
Chee Yoke Lingstudent of SAM, Executive Director of Third World Network, SAM’s sister organisation

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Tel: +604 827 6930
Fax: +604 827 6932

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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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