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Johor gov't urged to table Pengerang DEIA report

I would like to urge the Johor state government to table the detailed environmental impact assessment (DEIA) report on the proposed independent deepwater petroleum terminal at Pengerang during the next state assembly sitting in June.

I would also suggest that the Johor state assembly to set up a select committee to further study the DEIA report which reveals moderate to severe impact on fisheries, tourism and local flooding problems around the Pengerang region after the project is launched.

I was also briefed by local fishermen that there are more than 1,000 registered fishermen and as many as 3,000 unregistered fishermen in Pengerang region with an conservatively estimated revenue of RM3 to 30 million per month in the fishing industry and related tourism.

I was also informed that the DEIA report warns about the project's severe impact on the fishery and tourism industries.

The fishermen who came forward complained that Johor Government has not forwarded them a concrete compensation plan.

They also complained that the parties concerned have not compensated them due to fisheries losses resulted by an oil spill in the sea nearby last year.

I urge the Johor state government to be more responsive to the project's long term effects on the local population.

The DEIA report also shows that land reclamation for the project site would affect drainage by four rivers into the sea. That may result in floods due to possible slower flow diversion of rainwater runoffs.

Furthermore, emission of gases will pollute the atmosphere and this will have a long term negative impact on the local residents.

I call upon the Johor State Government make the DEIA report known to the public for comments and feedback.


 Dr Boo Cheng Hau is DAP Johor State Chairman and Johor State Assembly Opposition Leader.

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