BY SHARANPAL SINGH RANDHAWA
ALOR SETAR: The decision by the Department of Environment (DoE) to issue a stop-work order to the developer of a RM1.2bil coastal reclamation project dubbed “The Dubai of Malaysia” in Kuala Kedah is a good move, says environmentalist group Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM).
SAM now wants the department to reject the Environment Impact Assessment report and scrap the project.
In a statement issued by its president SM Mohamed Idris, SAM said it had brought this matter up with the DoE in mid-March after discovering that reclamation work for the Aman Laut project had started even while the EIA was being displayed for public review.
The ambitious Aman Laut project comprises high-end bungalows, chic condominiums, malls and luxury eateries, which will radically change the skyline beside the seafront.
“The Kedah state government, as the landowner, should have adhered to environmental laws and not start the project before getting all the approval,” he added.
SM Mohamed said the EIA report states mitigation measures would be undertaken to ensure that the marine resources are not affected by the reclamation.
However, he added that the project would lead to a total loss of mudflats and mangroves in the project site.
“In addition to threatening the fishery resources in the waters off Kuala Kedah and adversely affecting the livelihoods of fishermen, the mangroves here – the breeding grounds of marine life – will be permanently destroyed.
“The mudflat also serves as source of nutrients for fish for a much larger area.
“Since the estimated 5.6ha of mudflat habitat that would be lost because of the proposed reclamation project here serves as a source of nutrients for fish, all fish species would be affected,” he added.
He said the impact to the environment, specifically the coastal and marine environment, marine resources and coastal birds, would be significant.
“The coastal communities here, in particular the fishermen, have raised their objections. We call upon the DoE to reject the EIA of the proposed reclamation project,” he said.
On Sunday, DoE director-general Datuk Dr Ahmad Kamarulnajib Che Ibrahim confirmed that his department had issued the stop-work order through a notice dated May 15.
He said the project has yet to obtain the approval of the DoE but reclamation work at the site had started.
Kedah Environment Committee chairman Datuk Dr Leong Yong Long said yesterday that the decision made by the federal department was temporary until further notice.
“It is a big project and the decision taken by the ministry was done to protect the coastal and sea environments in the area. This is also for the developer to comply with the pre-requirement of an EIA report before proceeding with the project,” Dr Leong said.
Meanwhile, attempts to obtain comments from the developer were futile.
