A public dialogue in Nusajaya yesterday on the environmental impact assessment (EIA) on the Forest City project in Johor turned out to be a very heated affair with Country Garden Pacific View (CGPV) Sdn Bhd, the main developer, having to face the ire of residents of Kampong Pok, who will be affected by it.

 

The project involves land reclamation for building man-made islands northwest of Johor Baru in the Johor Straits.

 

More than 100 residents who turned up for the dialogue at Dewan Raya Kampung Pok wanted answers from the developer who claimed it had sought the views of about 10 percent of the residents, who are mostly fishermen, when most of them knew nothing about it.

 

One of the fishermen, Hanuar Isa, 49, asked how they would be compensated when their source of livelihood would be gone when the islands are up.

 

Another resident, Hanafi Pilus, 47, asked how they (residents) could be left out of the discussions on something as important as this.

 

Gelang Patah Umno committee member Fakhrul Anwar Ramli, who handles such matters for the division, called for a report from an independent panel on the long-term impact of the projects on locals.

 

However, Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor (KPRJ) vice-executive chairperson Md Othman Yusof reassured them that the economic spillover effects would benefit them.

 

The project, a joint venture between KPRJ and Country Garden Holdings Co Ltd from China has a Gross Development Value of RM600 billion.

 

It has been reported that Singapore has also voiced concerned about the project.

- Bernama