Johor reclamation works stopped

BEN TAN AND CHUAH BEE KIM New Straits Times 24 Jun 14;

JOHOR BARU: The Department of Environment has issued a temporary stop-work order against all coastal land reclamation works for the development of the massive Forest City off Tanjung Kupang here pending a detailed study.

State Health and Environment Committee chairman Datuk Ayub Rahmat said any negotiation on lifting the suspension would be between the department and the project’s jointdevelopers, China’s Country Garden Holdings Co Ltd and state-owned Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor.

“The order came about a week ago and all land reclamation work in the area have been suspended pending further studies on the environmental effects of the project,” hetold the New Straits Times yesterday.

The reclamation works for the proposed 49-hectare Forest City tourist hub project began in early March and was expected to be completed by year’s end.

The project hit a snag after the Singaporean government raised concerns over the state’s coastal land reclamation projects, citing that it might cause trans-boundary issues.

It also sent several diplomatic notes and a formal request to the Federal Government for more information on the state’s coastal projects, specifically in the Straits of Johor.

In a statement, its Foreign Affairs Ministry had said there were international obligations for both countries to work closely on such matters.

Environmental activists have also voiced their worries on Johor’s shoreline reclamation works.

Ayub said the state government would monitor the progress of discussions between developers and the Department of Environment.

“We will wait for the department to complete their studies on the project, after which we will also ensure that all guidelines are met.”

On the concerns raised by the Singaporean government, Ayub said the state government valued the bilateral ties with its neighbour.

“We will look into the issue of other trans-boundary effects because of the land reclamation works.”

Ayub clarified that there was a preliminary Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the proposed Forest City project.

“Normally, shoreline reclamation projects below 50ha in size, such as the proposed Forest City project, does not need a EIA report under the Environmental Quality (prescribed activities) (Environmental Impact Assessment) Order 1987.

“However, as the project will have a 80-room hotel, increasing the area’s density, a preliminary EIA report was conducted and its findings submitted to the relevant authorities.”

Country Garden Holdings, which has its international office in Johor Baru, did not reply to queries.

Yesterday, the New Straits Times reported that the Johor government confirmed it had received a request by Putrajaya to furnish details on land reclamation projects in the state.

'Reclamation works do not need EIA report'
The Star 24 Jun 14;

JOHOR BARU: Reclamation works under the “Forest City” project, that is feared by Singapore to have a possible impact on the island republic, do not require the Envi­ronmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report as the area reclaimed is not more than 20.2ha.

According to the Johor director of the Department of Environment (DOE) Mokhtar Abdul Majid, currently reclamation works at the Johor Straits, near the Gelang Patah Second Link, only involved an area measuring 19.8 ha.

“As the area reclaimed is not more than 20.2ha, it does not require the EIA report,” he said when asked on the sea reclamation works that drew concern from the Singapore government.

He confirmed that the sea reclamation works at the Johor Straits were being implemented by a developer from China, Country Garden Holdings Ltd, and a subsidiary of the Johor state government, Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor (KPRJ).

Mokhtar said the reclamation works began in early March and were expected to be completed within eight months.

Two days ago, the Singapore Foreign Ministry had expressed concern on the possibility of cross border effects on the republic as a result of the real estate development project at the Johor Straits.

Its spokesman said there was an international responsibility on the part of the Malaysian authorities and Singapore to cooperate on this matter and asked Malaysia to submit information on the reclamation works concerned.

Mokhtar said the Johor DOE had already submitted certain information on the Forest City sea reclamation project to the DOE headquarters for further action. — Bernama

Experts, NGOs call for greater oversight
New Straits Times 24 Jun 14;

KUALA LUMPUR: Experts and environmentalists are concerned by the consequences to the coastal environment and the community caused by land reclamation projects along the Straits of Johor.

Universiti Putra Malaysia’s Faculty of Environmental Studies lecturer Dr Mohd Yusoff Ishak said coastal reclamation projects would have an adverse environmental impact, particularly with soil dumping.

Yusoff said once soil is dumped onto beaches, mangroves would be affected, especially during high and low tide.

“Mangroves are breeding grounds for fish, and without it many coastal fishing areas and habitats would deteriorate, affecting fishermen.

“In a mangrove ecosystem, some flora and fauna require water, while others require air. When this pattern is altered, the ecosystem of both groups are disrupted.

“Soil dumping means sunlight cannot penetrate into the sea, which will affect seagrass and aquatic plants growing near shallow areas,” said Yusoff.

The Johor government is preparing information about the state’s coastal land reclamation for property development at the request of the Federal Government following a request by Singapore.

The project is located off Tanjung Kupang, in southwestern Johor near the second link bridge to Singapore.

Yusoff said a previous reclamation project by Singapore had affected the movement of Royal Malaysian Navy vessels at the Tanjung Pengelih base near Pengerang and also affected the local community and environment.

He has also urged authorities look into the latest reclamation work at Pulau Merambong and Sungai Pulai, which is near the project site, as both areas are breeding grounds for seahorses.

“These areas, which are within the vicinity of the Port of Tanjung Pelepas, are known to be breeding grounds for seahorses and dugong. When looking at the proximity of the projects, it raises real concerns over the preservation of these animals.”

“With the scale and nature of these projects, it would be best if stakeholders carried out a special assessment to discern its effect on coastal communities.”

He said local groups have also been working to create awareness on seagrass, seahorses and tidal flats in the area.

Environmental Protection Society Malaysia president Nithi Nesadurai concurred, saying that mangroves would be most affected by the project.

“When mangroves are disturbed, you are directly affecting nature and the people who rely on the mangroves.”

Nithi said there was a possibility that soil dumping would also impede the movement of vessels.

“Vessels will not be able to move freely because of the shallow seabed.”

He urged stakeholders to carry out an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the projects, despite the fact that reclamation of parcels of land were less than 50ha each, and do not require EIAs.

He said an EIA would be able to assess the risks, remedial measures and effects on coastal areas.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia geologist Prof Dr Abd Ghani Rafek questioned if the project developer had conducted a Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment, as it was a requirement under the Department of Environment for any coastal projects.

“Construction will have an impact on the movement of vessels in the vicinity. Transportation of construction material also needs specific corridors at sea and on land.”

Controversial reclamation project in Johor Straits halted
Today Online 25 Jun 14;

JOHOR BARU — Malaysia’s Department of Environment (DOE) has issued a stop-work order on a massive reclamation project to create a housing development in the Straits of Johor near the Second Link, said a Johor state official.

“The order came about a week ago and all land reclamation work in the area has been suspended pending further studies on the environmental effects of the project,” State Health and Environment Committee chairman Ayub Rahmat was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times (NST) yesterday.

Singapore had earlier expressed concern about the possible transboundary impact from the reclamation work in the Straits of Johor and requested more information from the Malaysian government.

“We have asked the Malaysian authorities to provide more information so that we can undertake a study as soon as possible on the impact of this reclamation work on Singapore and the Straits. They have agreed to do so and we hope to receive the information soon,” said a Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman on Saturday.

On Monday, the NST reported that the Johor government confirmed it had received a request from Putrajaya to furnish details on land reclamation projects in the state.

Malaysia media reports earlier said that Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong also wrote to his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak about the issue, after two diplomatic notes on the matter were sent to Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry last month.

A third note was handed to the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Mr Wahid Omar, when he visited Singapore recently, the reports said.

Mr Ayub told the NST that any negotiation on lifting the suspension on reclamation work for the development of the massive Forest City off Tanjung Kupang would be between the DOE and the project’s joint developers, China’s Country Garden Holdings and the state-owned Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor.

“We will wait for the department to complete its studies on the project, after which we will also ensure that all guidelines are met,” he said.

On the concerns raised by the Singapore Government, Mr Ayub said the state government valued the bilateral ties with its neighbour. “We will look into the issue of other transboundary effects because of the land-reclamation work,” the NST quoted him as saying.

The Forest City project involves creating a 1,817ha island almost three times the size of Ang Mo Kio and the construction of luxury homes. The project, which includes a 49ha tourist hub and recreational facilities, is expected to be completed in 30 years’ time.

The NST report said that reclamation work for the tourist hub began in early March and was expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Based on Malaysian regulations, projects that are larger than 50ha in size require an environmental impact assessment (EIA) report before they can be approved.

However, The Malaysian Insider reported that, as of June 15, publicly available information on the DOE’s web portal showed that no EIA report was submitted either for the Forest City project or another 1,410ha reclamation project off Tanjung Piai, undertaken by Benalec Holdings for the purpose of building an industrial oil and gas hub. AGENCIES

Johor government orders halt on land reclamation
AsiaOne 24 Jun 14;

Malaysia's Department of Environment has ordered all coastal land reclamation works for the Forest City project be stopped temporarily.

The New Straits Times reported on Tuesday that the stop-work order was issued about a week ago, and all land reclamation works in the area were suspended pending further studies on the environmental effects of the project.

Reclamation off Tanjung Kupang is part of a project handled by Chinese property developer Country Garden Holdings and a Johor government company Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor.

The planned 2,000 hectare man-made island is expected to include a 49-hectare tourist hub. Reclamation works were estimated to finish by end of 2014.

Singapore recently expressed concern over the project, sending a formal request for Malaysia to provide more details so it could study the possible impact on the strait.

Environmental activists also voiced their worries of any negative effects.

State Health and Environment Committee chairman Datuk Ayub Rahmat told the Malaysian paper that the Johor government valued its ties with Singapore.

"We will wait for the department to complete their studies on the project, after which we will also ensure that all guidelines are met," he added.

Ayub also told the New Straits Times that there was a preliminary Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the proposed Forest City project.

"Normally, shoreline reclamation projects below 50ha in size, such as the proposed Forest City project, does not need a EIA report under the Environmental Quality (prescribed activities) (Environmental Impact Assessment) Order 1987.

"However, as the project will have a 80-room hotel, increasing the area's density, a preliminary EIA report was conducted and its findings submitted to the relevant authorities," he said.

Here is the statement released by Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs earlier:

"Given Johor's close proximity to Singapore, we are naturally concerned about any possible transboundary impact on Singapore from property development projects that involve reclamation works in the Straits of Johor.

"There are also international obligations for both Malaysia and Singapore authorities to work closely on such matters.

"We have asked the Malaysian authorities to provide more information so that we can undertake a study as soon as possible on the impacts of these reclamation works on Singapore and the Straits. They have agreed to do so and we hope to receive the information soon."