Group: Make impact assessments public as part of SOP

 

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) has called on the federal government and related agencies to make impact assessments public as part of its standard operating procedure.

SAM president Meenakshi Raman said these should include social impact assessments (SIA), traffic impact assessments (TIA) and radiological impact assessments (RIA).

She also urged the government to seek public feedback before approval is given.

“SIA and TIA are required for relevant development projects before granting planning permission under the Town and Country Planning Act, 1976 (TCPA), while RIA is needed under the Atomic Energy Licensing Act 1984 in dealing with radioactive waste, prior to granting a licence for keeping such waste.

“Currently, none of these impact assessments are made public or require public feedback or comments before relevant authorities grant approvals,” Meenakshi said in a statement today.

Although the SIA process does involve some consultations with those likely to be affected by a project, how these concerns have been taken into account and addressed in the impact assessment is not known or made transparent, she added.

“We believe that these impact assessments must follow the procedures that exist in relation to environmental impact assessments (EIA) under the Environmental Quality Act 1974.

“This is where public participation and feedback are required for major projects with serious impacts before any EIA approval.

“Moreover, it is also not possible to view such impact assessments as there is no requirement to make them public,” she said, adding that the opaque system does not bode well for transparency in decision-making.

Independent scrutiny needed

Meenakshi cited the proposed Light Rail Transit project in Penang as an example.

Artistic impression of the proposed LRT project in Penang

“The SIA or TIA are not made public and concerned citizens are unable to view the findings and conclusions of these assessments.

“How can authorities expect the public to have confidence in the decisions they make if such assessments are not subject to independent scrutiny?” she asked.

Meenakshi said that the same applied to the Kampung Bohol flood retention pond issue in Kuala Lumpur.

Proposed development project on the Kampung Bohol flood retention pond

“The SIA and TIA for the proposed housing project in the area should be made public so that there is independent scrutiny of the adverse impacts on the communities nearby.

“Further, in the case of an RIA involving radioactive wastes, which may cause serious implications on human health and welfare, it is imperative and prudent to make the impact assessment public.

“This is to assure that all health and safety concerns have been considered and public comments and independent scrutiny have been provided,” she said.

“Otherwise, a lack of transparency gives rise to doubts as to whether decisions are made properly or behind closed doors, to advance the interests of big corporate players and their powerful backers,” she added. - Mkini