A lawmaker has criticised the Department of Environment (DOE) for allegedly taking down the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report for the Maharani Energy Gateway project from its official website after he raised concerns over a reclamation project linked to the Johor ruler.
Taking to social media, Muda president and Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman said the project’s EIA study should be made available to the public.
"After I posted a video related to fisherfolk complaining about the Maharani Energy Gateway mega project, I sensed something strange. Before I made the video, I made a reference to the EIA report uploaded on the DOE's website. I refer to it as I wanted to know about the mega project."
The former youth and sports minister said he used several pages of the full EIA report in his video.
"But today, when I want to refer back, it is no longer there, not even the EIA report button.
"My question is, why is a public report taken down from the website when the project has already started? This is a public report and the people, especially the Muar people who are affected, have the right to access the details of the project.
"I am just asking for their grievances to be heard and to give them appropriate compensation. We are trying to find a middle ground and resolve it in a good way with all parties involved," he said.
According to the screenshot which was uploaded by Syed Saddiq, the EIA report would be displayed at the exhibition centre from February 14 to March 15; and public review is welcomed until March 30.
Syed Saddiq said the welfare of the local people should not be neglected due to the presence of a mega-project because Muar is their home.
Two weeks ago, the Muar MP urged the state government to engage in a dialogue with stakeholders, including the fisherfolk, local businesses and local representatives before going forward with the project.
"This is about their future and their children's future. Please help," Syed Saddiq said in an Instagram video uploaded yesterday.
Malaysiakini has contacted the DOE for its response.
'No opinion'
The Maharani Energy Gateway project aims to create an energy hub and a deep seaport.
It will involve creating three man-made islands covering an area of 1,295 hectares, about a quarter of the size of Putrajaya.
Johor's Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar controls the largest stake in the project.
The EIA for the project states: "Fisherfolk who routinely fish in the affected area will have to find other locations."
It said that the continuation of fishing activities would involve an increase in costs due to travelling back and forth a further distance to alternate fishing grounds.
The report said it surveyed 101 fisherfolk about the project and the majority (49 respondents) had no opinion while another 23 agreed with the proposal.
The project's gross development value is estimated at RM99 billion over 10 years and is projected to generate 26,769 jobs.
The company working on the project aims to begin reclamation works as early as this year.
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