Don't exclude mining site from Chini forest reserve plan - NGO
An environmental group today urged the Pahang government not to exclude a mining site from the planned Tasik Chini forest reserve.
The state chapter of the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) believes that it would be a mistake to allow mining activity to continue at the site, identified as Lot 89798 in Mukim Penyor, Pekan.
“If the land plot is not...
An environmental group today urged the Pahang government not to exclude a mining site from the planned Tasik Chini forest reserve.
The state chapter of the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) believes that it would be a mistake to allow mining activity to continue at the site, identified as Lot 89798 in Mukim Penyor, Pekan.
“If the land plot is not included as a forest reserve, any activity at the mining site would still affect Tasik Chini.
“If the mine is located several kilometres away, then it is a different story. But this site is close by.
“Soil erosion has the potential to disturb Tasik Chini. This is a biosphere reserve, it should be totally pristine,” Pahang MNS chief Noor Jehan Abu Bakar said.
Malaysiakini had highlighted the planned manganese mining operation at the site on June 3 following an environmental impact assessment (EIA) process.
It was then revealed that the mining site on Lot 89798 was initially supposed to be part of the planned Tasik Chini forest reserve, but was removed from the earmarked area.
According to the Pahang Survey and Mapping Department, the land plot was excluded by means of a state government gazette.
Prior to this, the company hired to carry out manganese ore mining at the location told Malaysiakini that the site was not a part of the area to be given state protection, and hopes it can proceed.
Golden Prosperous Resources Sdn Bhd also claimed that the site has been damaged by illegal miners, and thus it should be allowed to continue mining there so that the company can proceed with rehabilitation works after it is done.
Why the delay?
Jehan also questioned the delay in gazetting Tasik Chini as a forest reserve, taking more than two years since the Pahang government announced its decision to do so in 2019.
She said MNS is glad that the plight of Tasik Chini has received attention from the royal family, especially when the Pahang regent visited the place and ordered all mining activities there to stop.
Regent Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah had also ordered the state government to expand the area to be gazetted from 4,600ha to between 6,000ha and 7,000ha.
However, expressing her concern on the state’s commitment, Jehan urged that the palace see that the regent’s order is followed.
“We are happy with the decree. It shows that the royalty is listening to the grassroots.
“However, now we have learned that the mining site had been excluded from the area to be gazetted. This is the opposite of the regent’s wish.
“Who is making sure that his decree is followed? Is there anyone monitoring this?” she said.
'Just lip service'
Meanwhile, Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh urged the Pahang government to enact a law that protects nature and the environment in the state to show its commitment.
Otherwise, it is only “lip service”, Fuziah said, adding that she was not surprised with the news that the mining site had been excluded from being made a forest reserve.
“Even when an area has been gazetted as a permanent forest reserve, it can be de-gazetted easily by the Pahang government. What more if it has yet to be gazetted?
"This situation arises because it is easy to de-gazette a forest reserve in Pahang.
"This is unlike Selangor where the state law requires the government to have a public consultation before they can carve out a forest reserve. But Pahang does not have such a requirement.
“In other words, there is no commitment to preserve nature,” she said in a statement to Malaysiakini.
The PKR leader said the requirement makes it hard for a forest reserve in Selangor to be de-gazetted.
Tasik Chini is a rich bio-diversified lush tropical wilderness, home to hundreds of species of flora, non-aquatic life and freshwater fish.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) in 2009 declared the area as one of its biosphere reserves.
