Environment groups object development request on state land in Langkawi

 

A group of 24 environmental organisations have formally objected to a private company's request for approval to develop several plots of Kedah's state land in Langkawi.

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) president Meenakshi Raman said the plots of land in Padang Matsirat - PT 449 (North), Lot 60002/PT 17/Lot 1047/Lot 967 (East), Tanah Kerajaan (Sea) (West), Lot 60012 and PT 1298 - also has a breakwater that functions as a structure built from shore to sea in order to protect a harbour or beach from crashing waves.

"The Kedah Land and Mines Department director recently said that if no reasonable objections were received by Feb 3 in relations to the application, then the 'land is likely to be approved' to the company," Meenakshi said in a joint statement today. 

She said the groups submitted their objections after discovering that among others, the application was linked to a 1,979 acres (800ha) reclamation project previously announced by Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor with a private company.

"Any land application related to the reclamation project should not be allowed as it is still premature, given that it has yet to go through the prescribed legal processes.

"Any reclamation project of this scale must receive advise of the National Physical Planning Council under Section 20B of the Town and Country Planning Act 1976."

The groups also said there were requirements to be met in order to obtain the council's advice, including submission of a development proposal and a social impact assessment.

In this case, the groups said any approval for the project must take into account various issues including climate change, impact to the marine ecosystem, the fishing industry and other socio-economic changes to be faced by Langkawi fisherfolk and their surrounding areas.

To do so, they urged the Kedah government to conduct a thorough cost and benefit analysis, as well as seek public opinion, before making a final decision.

"If the application is approved without compliance to processes under the law and public engagement, the approval can be viewed as an abuse of power and going against the law," they added. - Mkini