The Department of National Heritage (DNH) has not decided on a developer’s application for the AJA land reclamation project off the coast of Klebang, Malacca.
The heritage commissioner’s approval is required for Konsortium Pembangunan Tanah Laut (Melaka) Sdn Bhd (KPTLM)’s application.
This is because 25 percent out of the 300-acre (121.4-hectare) project was gazetted as a protected national heritage area in 2010.
“It must be stressed once again that the heritage commissioner has not yet made or given any decision to the developer of the reclamation project in the affected protected national heritage areas,” said Deputy Transport Minister Henry Sum Agong.
He was representing the Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister while speaking in the Parliament’s special chambers in response to a question from Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong on Wednesday (March 9).
Henry said it was determined that 75 acres (30.4 hectares) had been gazetted as a protected national heritage area based on the Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) report prepared by KPTLM.
The HIA report had been presented to the DNH on Jan 29, 2021, by an archaeologist appointed by the developer.
In a letter dated Sept 6, 2021, the heritage commissioner gave KPTLM support for its application, on the condition that the developer complies with several other conditions first before the final approval.
In a meeting on Nov 29, 2021, with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Technical Review Committee, the DNH did not approve anything and raised the same conditions as stated in the previous letter.
The conditions are:
For the project developer to re-submit an updated HIA report based on the concerns expressed by DNH.
For the consultant to review the report by specifying an accurate location of the project site with the buffer zones and Malacca’s tertiary world heritage zones.
For the consultant to clearly state the monitoring system on the impact of soil erosion.
Archaeological artefacts
Henry said an updated HIA report has been re-submitted since and the DNH has asked two underwater archaeology experts from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) to examine and review the report.
“The heritage commissioner is still waiting for the review, opinions, and recommendations from these experts.
“The HIA report and the results and recommendations from the experts is expected to be tabled at a meeting of the National Heritage Council at the end of March to be considered.”
The AJA project is a sub-project of the Malacca Waterfront Economic Zone (M-WEZ) mega reclamation project.
KPTLM is the developer while the concession areas are owned by four companies linked to Malacca Umno leaders.
It was previously reported that apart from the potential adverse impact on marine life and livelihood of fisherfolk, the AJA project could also hamper the discovery of historical artefacts.
This is because the HIA report for the project cited how a fisherman found porcelain from China during the transition period between the Ming and Qing dynasties as well as items from Europe.
The report said other artefacts have also been discovered when fishing, including shipwrecks, weapons, ceramics, and coins from the period of the Sultanate of Malacca, Portuguese Malacca, Dutch Malacca, and the British colonial era. - Mkini
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