DOE asks for detailed EIA report on Sg Pulai petrochemical project

CURRENT ISSUE
Tuesday August 14, 2007

By A. LETCHUMANAN

KUALA LUMPUR: The Department of Environment has asked for a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report on a petrochemical project at the Sungai Pulai estuary in Pontian, Johor.

National Resources and Environment deputy minister Datuk S. Sothinathan said the request was made following reservations expressed by Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman.

"The MB has proposed a detailed EIA report in view of the sensitivity of the project and the huge mangrove swamp. He has valid concern," he told reporters after handing over the ISO 9001:2000 certification to Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) here today.

Sothinathan said the company undertaking the project had already submitted a comprehensive EIA report, which had been vetted and approved by the DOE last month.

"This is a new development and there has been a lot of public outcry," he said.

According to Sothinathan, after the detailed EIA report is completed, it would be displayed in public places so that the public, non-governmental organisations and government agencies could raise any issues, if there were any, within a stipulated grace period.

"If there are any objections, then there would be an inquiry before the EIA report is approved by the DOE," he said.

The company in question is involved in setting up a petroleum-bunkering hub on a reclaimed 40ha island in the vicinity of the Sungai Pulai estuary.

Commenting on illegal loggers in Sabah, Sothinathan described them as "bank robbers," saying these people conduct a survey of the forest area, target the suitable areas and within a short time, go in and collect as much wood as they can and disappear.

He said the illegal logging is taking place sporadically everywhere but has been controlled with the able vigilance of the forest rangers and tip-offs from the public.

"These illegal loggers are very well-organised. If they know they will get caught, they will run away. If they know they have the time, they will take whatever they want from the forest," he said.

Sothinathan was commenting on reports that the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) had busted a major illegal logging operation in the interior of Sabah, seizing 1,000 logs on 22 lorries yesterday.

He said it was difficult for the forest department, as it does not have the manpower to physically check the forests in the country.

"We tried satellite sensing but the data is only available after two weeks. We are looking at options which can provide us with real-time information so that action can be taken," he said.

POSTED BY NOR HIDAYAH MOHD(SEP060075)