Chua in two minds over RAPID project

While Pakatan has announced that it would not scrap the RAPID project, Johor PKR chief says the project should not take off in the first place.

PETALING JAYA: PKR vice-president Chua Jui Meng is in two minds over the RAPID project in Pengerang, Johor.

Earlier, Chua, who is also PKR Johor chief, vowed during a protest in Pengerang that Pakatan Rakyat would abolish the RM60 billion project should it come into power after the next general election.

When Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim said that Pakatan simply wanted a stop-work order on the RAPID project, pending the settlement of several issues, Chua had other thoughts.

Pakatan clarified that it is not rejecting outright the Petronas Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (RAPID), but rather its implementation, which is said to affect the livelihood of residents there.

But in his blog Chua said his personal stand is that the project cannot be located at its current site.

“I have also stated before that I am not against sustainable development but RAPID cannot be located at its present site in Pengerang because it affects 17 villages and thousands of residents, as well as their health and well-being. I stand by the people of Pengerang,” he said.

He added that the negative impact on the environment and the ecology of Pengerang must also be considered.

“RAPID is also being used as an excuse by the Johor government led by Menteri Besar Ghani Othman to grab people’s land cheaply by invoking the Land Acquisition Act 1960.

“As far as I am concerned, I will oppose any attempt to locate any unsustainable and polluting industry in Johor that affects too many Johoreans ,” he said.

He believes that such public health hazard industries must only be located in uninhabited areas.

“There are still many such areas in the peninsula and East Malaysia where RAPID can be sited without affecting the people,” he said.