Bukit Lagong quarrying won't affect Orang Asli, says Hee

The Selangor government has denied claims that quarrying at Bukit Lagong would affect Orang Asli communities in the area.

It also said the quarrying licences were issued in accordance with due process.

“These approvals were made taking into consideration not just the demand for stones in the effort to develop Selangor, but also sustainability, reducing environmental impact, controlling the production rate of stone materials, and reducing congestion on production road,” said Selangor Exco Member Hee Loy Sian in a statement today.

Hee (above) is in charge of tourism, environment, green technology and Orang Asli affairs in the state.

His statement came following reports last month of nearby Orang Asli communities expressing concern over the quarrying works and its impact on their farms and water supply.

The local assemblyperson Sallehudin Amiruddin, meanwhile, had said existing quarries have already clogged rivers, and the newly approved quarries could exacerbate the situation and lead to flash floods.

Malaysiakini also found some quarries to be linked to the state government and members of the Selangor royalty.

However, Hee countered that the Orang Asli will not be affected because there are no Orang Asli living in the Bukit Lagong forest.

“There are only Orang Asli villages outside the area, which is about 3km from the existing quarries and about 9km from the newly approved ones,” he said.

Production forest

Hee also clarified that the Bukit Lagong forest reserve had been classified as a production forest since it was gazetted as a permanent forest reserve in 1917.

“This includes operating quarries related to construction industries that require stone materials,” he added.

As for the approval process, Hee said the Selangor Forestry Department had followed guidelines and conditions under the state’s National Forestry Act (Adoption) Enactment 1985 and Selangor Forest Rules 1988 (Amendment) 2017.

There are eight quarries operating in all of Selangor’s permanent forest reserves, but their licences since 1993 will expire next year.

New quarry approvals

For the new quarries, Hee said the Forestry Department received 44 applications between 2014 and 2016, with 16 approved.

The approvals were based on several criteria - company background, economic management, knowledge of quarrying operations, environmental issues, safety issues, and remediation efforts.

“It should be emphasised that these 16 companies are chosen based on the above criteria and not what is alleged by certain quarters trying to create a negative perception.

“Upon the Forestry Department recommendations, the state executive council considered and approved 16 companies to operate quarries in Bukit Lagong forest to be opened in phases, namely eight beginning in 2020 and another eight in 2023.

“All quarries are limited to a 30-year operation period and depth no more than 20m from the surface,” Hee said

“Because of Covid-19 and the movement control order, the operation of these quarries has yet to begin and has been postponed to 2023 and 2026,” he added.

He said the operators are required to limit their environmental impact and must follow conditions set by the Forestry Department and other technical agencies, particularly the environmental impact assessment report.

Hee also dismissed allegations that approval of the quarrying works contravenes the state’s 25-year moratorium on logging.

This is because the moratorium only covers logging, not quarrying, he explained.

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