Gunung Lambak durian project: EIA unneeded, land restoration ordered

The operator of a planned durian project in Gunung Lambak, Kluang does not need to submit an environmental impact assessment (EIA) as the land has been agricultural land since the 1940s, clarified Kluang District Officer Jamaludin A Hamid.

He said the Environment Department (DOE) found that the durian project on the 37ha of private agricultural land is not a new planting project that requires the conversion of land for the purpose.

“Initially the DOE said they needed to submit an EIA report.

“But during a meeting last Tuesday (Sept 13), they found out that the EIA is not necessary since the project is a replanting project and not a new (planting) application,” Jamaludin said.

The authorities have ordered the land owner to first conduct land restoration work before the durian project plan is considered for approval.

Jamaludin said the owner is expected to carry out the land restoration work by next week under the guidance of the Agriculture Department.

“The Agriculture Department has suggested the owner cover the land (as part of restoration work) by planting trees, signal grass and vetiver grass.

“The department will provide guidance and allocation for planting the trees,” he added.

The meeting involved the land owner, DOE, Agriculture Department, Irrigation and Drainage Department, Forestry Department and local council representatives.

3 months to monitor

The district officer stressed that the authorities will continue to monitor the land restoration work and the water holding capacity of the land for three months.

This means the durian planting plan will be put on hold during these three months.

In the meantime, the land owner is also required to submit documents for the durian planting project to the Agriculture Department.

“The landowner should do their replanting works (for the durian project) phase by phase, not clear all the trees and vegetation at once and should not leave the land bare.

“Now the priority is for them to restore the land, durian planting (has) not yet (been approved).

“After three months we will see, maybe they just need to dig holes for durian trees and not clear everything on the land before planting,” Jamaludin said.

He confirmed that the land owner had started building two retention ponds previously but they have not yet been completed.

The local council is considering to allow the land owner to clear the dead trees and leaves left on the land before the start of the land restoration work.

Jamaludin hopes Kluang residents will not confuse the removal of dead trees with illegal logging activities. He said the owner has provided full cooperation so far.

Last week, Jamaludin told Malaysiakini that an EIA report will be required since the durian planting project is located on a sloped area.

Not related to elephant habitat

Some residents have expressed concern that the durian project may destroy the elephants’ habitat and cause the animals to roam near residential areas again.

On this, Jamaludin clarified that there is no relation between the durian project and the elephant habitat since there are no elephants living on the private agricultural land.

Last month, the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) confirmed that more than 10 wild elephants have been spotted around Taman Seri Impian, Kluang.

Since last year, there have several accidents in Kluang where vehicles collided with elephants or where drivers tried to avoid crashing into the largest land mammals resulting in the death of one man.

On the mudflows last week in Taman Megah and Taman Bahagia, which are located near the durian project, Jamaludin said the main cause was the blocking ditches.

After the mudflows, he said the irrigation and drainage system underwent cleaning and maintenance work to cope with the coming rainy season.

Durian project backlash

Malaysiakini last week reported that Steadfast Properties Sdn Bhd bought 17 plots of land at Gunung Lambak last year to plant Musang King durian.

The land has been private agricultural land since 1944, although they are adjacent to the Rengam Forest Reserve, according to the Johor government.

The durian project drew backlash among residents when they saw parts of Gunung Lambak bare as they were worried about potential landslides and floods.

Gunung Lambak is also an important hiking and recreational spot for locals.

A Steadfast Properties shareholder told Malaysiakini that two retention ponds will be built for the durian planting project as a safety measure, among others.

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