NGOs urge Perak MB to act on illegal sand mining in Manjung

Two environmental non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are urging Perak Menteri Besar Saarani Mohamad to take stern action against illegal sand mining at the Pasir Panjang beach in Manjung.

The two NGOs are Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) and Persatuan Aktivis Sahabat Alam (Kuasa).

SAM field researcher Meor Razak Meor Abdul Rahman said it had been observed that this activity is still going on, ignoring the prohibition by the relevant authorities.

“This shows that the irresponsible parties have no respect for the supremacy of the law.

“Therefore, I urge that the Menteri Besar... pays attention to this issue and takes action against those who defy the decision of the relevant authorities,” he said in a statement today.

Meor Razak pointed out that the Menteri Besar is the state executive councillor in charge of the land, forestry, and natural resources portfolio, is the chairperson of the State Planning Committee, and is a member of the National Physical Planning Council.

Based on the National Physical Planning document, all turtle landing areas in Peninsular Malaysia have been categorised as Environmentally Sensitive Areas, Level 1 (KSAS Tahap 1).

As such, the areas cannot be used for any activity and there cannot be changes made to the land use except for low-impact eco-tourism, research, and education.

Meor Razak said the coastal area from the Pasir Panjang Recreation Forest until the Pasir Pandak beach, Tanjung Hantu recorded frequent turtle landings based on nests discovered.

Their eggs have also been gathered by collectors appointed by the Fisheries Department, he added.

“Due to its importance and to ensure preservation of the ecosystem of the beach area between Pasir Panjang and Tanjung Hantu, we have been cooperating with the state and federal governments under the Malaysia Greening Programme and National Coastal Tree Planting Programme since 2013.

“Based on the State Government Gazette, the area is part of the Virgin Forest Reserve of Tanjung Hantu which had been degazetted (Gazette No. 89 dated Feb 2, 1989).

“The sand mining activity is feared to disturb and destroy the physical structure of the beach area and could even no longer be a suitable landing area for turtles to lay their eggs,” he added.

Meor Razak said the sand mining activity and change in land use at the Pasir Panjang beach area could also derail the state and federal governments’ efforts in the Planting of 1,000,000 Trees Programme and National Coastal Tree Planting Programme.

“The state authorities must take action to stop and disallow such activity and any change in the land use in the area at risk, especially the turtle landing locations.

“It is also apt for the relevant authority to gazette back the area categorised as KSAS Level 1 as a permanent forest reserve or as a protected area,” he said.

On Jan 3, the director of the Perak Land and Mines Office, Mohamad Fariz Mohamad Hanip said works at the site had been detected since last November.

With cooperation of the Manjung Municipal Council, he said, the works were ordered to stop pending approval.

He said that on checking the application, the company involved wished to develop the area as it had the potential for mining sand for silica.

- Bernama