12 new projects approved even after 2019 deforestation deadline
Just June this year, Malaysiakini submitted a list to Plantation and Commodities Minister Johari Abdul Ghani, revealing new oil palm plantation projects in Peninsular Malaysia approved by the Environment Department (DOE) after 2020.
The scale of deforestation from these projects is comparable to half of Penang Island.
Johari had promised that he would meet with MBs of the involved...
Just June this year, Malaysiakini submitted a list to Plantation and Commodities Minister Johari Abdul Ghani, revealing new oil palm plantation projects in Peninsular Malaysia approved by the Environment Department (DOE) after 2020.
The scale of deforestation from these projects is comparable to half of Penang Island.
Johari had promised that he would meet with MBs of the involved states to explain why these oil palm fruits “have no place in the market”.
Malaysiakini’s multiple follow-up inquiries to Johari’s office and the Plantation and Commodities Ministry finally received a response last month. The ministry stated that the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) had not received plantation applications from the companies listed.
A spokesperson explained that the environmental impact assessment (EIA) reports for these projects were approved by the Environment Ministry, as this falls under its jurisdiction and not that of the Plantation and Commodities Ministry.
The spokesperson also emphasised that strict policies have been implemented: any land cleared after the deadline (December 31, 2019) will not qualify for MSPO (Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil) certification for its oil palm fruits.
In other words, the Plantation Ministry believes that these deforested areas are not intended and will not be used for oil palm cultivation, so the projects are unrelated to them.
However, these forests were logged under the pretence of establishing oil palm plantations. If there were no plans to cultivate oil palm, why weren’t the logging projects halted?
Satellite evidence confirms deforestation
The government set a deforestation cut-off date of Dec 31, 2019, for all oil palm plantations, yet these plans were approved between 2020 and 2023. In other words, four years after this ban, the DOE is still approving new projects.
Located in Pahang (four), Johor (four), Terengganu (two), Kelantan (one) and Perak (one), there are altogether 12 approved projects in violation of government regulations.
Malaysiakini has reached out to DOE and the developers to get their responses.
In April, Malaysiakini reported on the deforestation done by the Pahang State Development Corporation to develop oil palm plantations despite the 2020 ban. The government-linked company received Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification for their plantation that cleared riparian zones and conducted open burning, which violates the MPOB conservation regulations.
READ MORE: Timber grab: The truth behind Pahang oil palm plantations
MPOB has repeatedly assured that the Malaysian oil palm industry will not contribute towards deforestation, but the above findings raise concerns over the credibility of such promises.
The following is what we have discovered.
Pahang
At least four new projects have been approved in Pahang since 2020, three of which are located in the Rompin district.
Keratong, Rompin; YP OIio
An 8,499ha logging and oil palm plantation project to be developed on private land No ET 12227 is located in Keratong, Rompin.
The developer is YP Olio, a company held by members of the royal family.
DOE approved YP Olio’s EIA report on Aug 3, 2022.
According to local environmental news site Macaranga, this is an important ecological conservation spot that serves as a habitat for the Malayan tiger and Asian elephants.
This project sits on the customary land of the local indigenous people, who have since filed a civil suit against YP Olio and the Pahang government for violating their customary land rights.
Pekan (Pasfa)
A 402ha oil palm plantation project sitting on Lot PT 5783 H.S.(D) 5356 of Kampung Air Hitam Darat in Lepar, Pekan.
The developer is the Pahang State Farmers Association (Pasfa).
Pasfa president is Zamri Yaakob, elder brother of former prime minister and Bera MP Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Zamri claimed that this project has complied with all the regulations stated by DOE, including development in stages and protection of riparian areas.
DOE approved Pasfa’s EIA report on June 29, 2021. This EIA report was approved when Ismail was the senior minister of security, one out of the four senior ministers under Muhyiddin Yassin’s cabinet.
Kuala Pontian, Rompin; Kepala Mentari
A 122ha oil palm plantation project sitting on Lot 26172 of Pontian, Rompin.
DOE approved the project’s EIA report on Feb 18, 2021.
In response to Malaysiakini's query, Kepala Mentari states that the land was approved for cultivation of palm oil on 19/07/2016 by the land office. According to the letter attached by the company, the Environment Department stated on Sept 13, 2023, that it had no objection to Kepala Mentari's request to end environmental monitoring as Kepala Mentari had already cleared the land and carried out plantation work.
Keratong, Rompin; Asyadihan Plantations
An 854ha logging and oil palm plantation project sitting on PT 16675 of Keratong, Rompin, out of which 84ha belong to Lesong forest reserves.
DOE approved the EIA report on May 4, 2020.
The land had been encroached on by logging pathways since 2019; by 2022, most of the natural forests had been cleared.
Johor
At least four oil palm plantation projects in Johor have been approved since 2020, two of which belong to Johor royalty-linked companies while another one belongs to a state government-linked corporation.
Kota Tinggi; Lengor Venture
A 64ha oil palm plantation project located at PTD399, Ulu Sungei Sedili Besar, Kota Tinggi.
DOE received the EIA report for this project on Dec 12, 2023. It is now listed as approved on DOE’s website.
Padang Endau, Mersing; AA Sawit
A 3,775ha oil palm and coconut plantation occupying six plots of land in Padang Endau, Mersing.
AA Sawit’s background is anything but simple: its substantial shareholders are Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar and Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim.
According to Macaranga’s report in 2022, it was months after clearing 3,775ha of forest land before AA Sawit appointed consultants to prepare the plantations’ EIA report.
Following the publication of the above report, Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad confirmed in March 2023 that AA Sawit was in breach of regulations. The DOE directed AA Sawit to cease operations on these lands through a stop-work order.
However, DOE’s website shows that the EIA report was submitted on Feb 20, 2023 and has since been approved.
Padang Endau, Mersing; YPJ Plantation
A 321ha oil palm plantation project located on PTD 4893 in Padang Endau, Mersing.
The DOE approved this project on May 29, 2021.
This corporation is affiliated with the Johor Education Foundation, under the Johor government.
Kota Tinggi; AA Sawit
An oil palm plantation project located on PTD 1478, PTD 1479, PTD 2266 and PTD 5934 on the east coast of Kota Tinggi.
DOE approved the project on Jan 18, 2021.
Terengganu
Two oil palm plantations in Terengganu were approved after 2020, one of which belongs to a company held by a member of the Terengganu royal family.
Marang; Pure Green Development
An oil palm plantation project on lot No 77055 in Pulau Kerengga, Marang.
According to DOE’s website, Pure Green Development submitted its EIA report on Jan 11, 2024, and it has since been approved.
The substantial shareholder of Pure Green Development is Tengku Baderul Zaman, brother of Terengganu’s ruler Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin.
Malaysiakini reported in September that Pure Green Development intended to convert Kuala Nerus peatland forests into oil palm plantations. DOE rejected the proposal.
READ MORE: T'ganu royalty-linked project sparks environmental concerns
Dungun; Sandemas Trading
A 142ha oil palm plantation project located on PT 2449 (HSD 3492) in Jengai, Dungun.
DOE received the EIA report on Jan 17, 2024, and has since approved the project.
Kelantan
Gua Musang forests, Sungai Betis
This oil palm plantation occupies the sultan’s land on lot PT 22 Block B (450ha), Compartments 18, 141 and 142 in Sungai Betis forest reserve, Bertam, Ulu Nenggiri, Kelantan.
The DOE approved this project on Jan 12, 2021.
The developer is Ikrar Bumi Sdn Bhd.
Perak
Selama; PKEINPK
A 201ha oil palm plantation project located in Palung Tinggi, Hulu Ijok, Selama.
The developer of the project is Perbadanan Kemajuan Ekonomi Islam Negeri Perak (PKEINPK), a subsidiary of Perak Islamic Religious Council and Malay Customs (MAIPK).
The EIA report was submitted on May 12, 2023. The DOE’s website listed the project as approved.
Responding to Malaysiakini’s query, Perbadanan Ekonomi Islam Perak Sdn Bhd (PSB) - the parent company of PKEINPK said that the land still belongs to the state government, and neither the transfer of land ownership nor land clearing was carried out.
This story was produced in partnership with the Pulitzer Center’s Rainforest Investigations Network. This story was translated by Leong Jie Yu.
