Perak exco to meet NGOs over sand mining project

 

Perak executive councillor Teh Kok Lim said it is time to listen to the complaints of environmental groups about the sand mining activities at the Segari Melintang forest reserve. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

Perak science, environment and green technology committee chairman Teh Kok Lim says he will arrange a meeting with NGO representatives to discuss the sand mining issue in Manjung and seek a win-win solution.

It is time to really listen to their complaints,

 Teh told FMT.

Earlier today, Malaysiakini reported that environmental groups have raised concerns about the sand mining project at the beach area of the Segari Melintang forest reserve in Manjung, Perak.

We fear the project will wipe out turtle landing spots and cause the endangered species to lose their nesting grounds,

 said Persatuan Aktivis Sahabat Alam secretary Noor Ismady Ahmad Radzuan at a press conference.

Ismady said there are typically 10 to 20 turtle nesting sites each year along the coast between Tanjung Baru (north of Segari Melintang) and Tanjung Hantu (south of Segari Melintang), which borders the Strait of Malacca.

“However, based on information from our contacts in the fisheries department and licensed egg collectors, only about five nesting sites have been reported between January and September this year.

We suspect silica mining activities already under way in the Tanjung Hantu area are disturbing the turtles,

 he said.

Ismady emphasised that Manjung is the sole location in Perak where turtles come to nest, and allowing sand mining in the area could seriously threaten the local marine population.

According to Malaysiakini, the state government degazetted a large portion of the forest reserve last year to allegedly make way for sand quarries, including 287ha of a coastal hill forest. - FMT