EIA for forest plantation project near Kuala Kangsar one-sided, says PSM

IPOH: Dr. Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj has raised concerns about the environment impact assessment (EIA) for a proposed forest plantation project in the Kledang Saiong permanent forest reserve, Kuala Kangsar. According to the PSM chairman, the EIA report is one-sided and contains numerous assumptions, including the claim that certain parts of the forest reserve have already been heavily logged. Additionally, the report fails to address issues related to the Orang Asli community and endangered species, which is alarming. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Dr. Jeyakumar also mentioned that he submitted a memorandum opposing the project to Perak Mentri Besar special officer Rahim Nawawi at the State Secretariat building.

Dr. Jeyakumar further criticized the developer for commissioning the EIA instead of having the Environment Department conduct it. This raises questions about the credibility and objectivity of the assessment. Notably, on February 17, eight NGOs submitted a memorandum to the office of Perak Sultan, urging the Ruler to intervene in the proposed forest plantation project. These NGOs requested Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah to instruct the state authorities to abide by the decision made during the 79th National Land Council meeting on December 2, 2021. The decision called for a 15-year moratorium on approving new forest plantations in permanent forest reserves on the peninsula of Malaysia.

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad defended the project in February, stating that it did not violate any regulations. He revealed that the Forest Plantation Development Zone had initially approved an area of 100,000ha but was subsequently reduced to approximately 32,000ha by the state government. Despite these assurances, Dr. Jeyakumar has expressed his grievances to Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad and is hopeful that he will intervene.

“We urge the government to reject the EIA report. Additionally, we seek a meeting with the Mentri Besar to further discuss this matter,” Dr. Jeyakumar stated. The press conference was also attended by Meor Razak Meor Abdul Rahman, field officer of Sahabat Alam Malaysia, Hafizuddin Nasarudin, president of Persatuan Aktivis Sahabat Alam (Kuasa), and Damian Thanam Divean, executive council member of Pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah Alam Malaysia (Peka).