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Sole surviving mangrove forest on government land in Batu Maung turned dump site

  • Publication Date | January 30, 2019
  • Document Type | Media Statement
  • Programmes | Forests & Biodiversity
  • Issues | Biodiversity, Fisheries, Pollution, Waste
  • Tags | Batu Maung, mangrove forest
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Scorched mangrove trees at illlegal dumpsite | SAM
Scorched mangrove trees at illlegal dumpsite | SAM

The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) is shocked that the sole surviving mangrove forest on government land in the middle of Pekan Baru Batu Maung and adjacent to the Bayan Lepas Industrial Park is threatened by irresponsible dumping of waste.

Subsequently, the brackish river flowing through the mangrove forest here is inevitably polluted by leachates into a sensitive ecosystem sustained by the mangrove forest located at the back of the Fisheries Research Institute Malaysia.

In the 1960’s before the development of the Penang Airport, Bayan Lepas Free Trade Industrial Zone and other development, this area was fringed by thick mangroves. Most recently in the past few decades, there remained about 20 hectares of mangrove forest. However due to recent intrusive activities, two areas totalling about 15 percent of the entire area have been rendered barren.

We understand that the land was owned by the Federal Government and placed under the supervision of the Fisheries Department. It is a surprise how lorries are able to dump the waste on federal land.  It brings to question how the responsible agency does its monitoring and safeguards its own property from being encroached.

Among the waste dumped in the open space were concrete piles, car engine parts, electrical and electronic peripherals, thick nylon lines and plastic waste. Therefore, we do not subscribe to the belief that this could have been land reclamation activities. We rather believe that it is a blatant effort by people to conveniently dispose waste at that place.

Recently the waste material disposed at the dump site caught fire and scorched some of the mangrove trees fringing the open ground. The other concern is that this mangrove forest is less than 0.5 km away from the Penang International Airport and is virtually surrounded by a dense built-up of houses and the SME factories of Pekan Baru Batu Maung. Any pollution or fire will badly affect the community.

We demand that action be taken against the party responsible for clearing the mangrove land and we want the culprits who indiscriminately dumped rubbish there to be hauled up and punished. As for the presence of the large amount of construction material, there is a need to trace the origin of these wastes to identify the contractor and persons responsible in disposing of the waste.

The mangrove forest here should be accorded better protection as it is the sole surviving patch of mangrove forest in this area.  Besides its many other functions, the mangrove forest in this particular area is important to maintain water quality, trap sediments and filter pollutants originating from activities in the surrounding area.

We need urgent and stringent action by the local, state and federal government to ensure that the remaining mangroves here are fully protected and conserved in perpetuity. 

S.M MOHAMED IDRIS

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
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?
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No. 1, Jalan Joki, 11400 Penang,
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Tel: +604 827 6930
Fax: +604 827 6932

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