Bernama 9 Nov 07;
PTP, MNSJ Moot Idea To Gazette Pulau Merambung
JOHOR BAHARU, Nov 9 (Bernama) -- The Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) and the Malaysian Nature Society of Johor (MNSJ) have mooted an idea to gazette Pulau Merambung, an island across the port, as a marine conservation area.
The idea was mooted as they entered into a collaboration to conserve the Sungai Pulai estuary to help preserve sea grass, dugong, seahorses and other marine inhabitants in areas around Pulau Merambung.
PTP chairman Datuk Mohd Sidik Shaik Osman said the idea was in line with the port's promotion for a sustainable development.
"I don't think we want to develop the port in a manner where we will destroy the environment. If we think the development of the area will have serious impact on the environment, then we have to adjust our plans accordingly, he told reporters after presenting a RM60,000 cheque to MNSJ to finance its research on Sungai Pulai estuary and its unique eco-system.
Under the collaboration with MNSJ, PTP will collect data on the environment in the area and learn how to conserve them as it planned for future development.
"It is possible in some areas where we do our port work that some sea grass areas are affected. We would want to relocate the sea grass to an area around Pulau Merambung so that we could preserve it," said Sidik.
MNSJ Director Assoc Prof Dr Maketab Mohamed said the society would give advice and technical support to PTP on environmental aspects so that its future development would not have negative impact on the environment.
Data collected by the society would also be used as scientific evidence to support the idea to gazette Pulau Merambung, he said.
Johor State Executive Councillor for Tourism and Environment Freddie Long, who was also present, said the state government welcomed the idea.
"Nobody can enter the island when the Johor National Parks Corporation approves the gazetting," he said.
PTP, Environ Group To Develop Sungai Pulai Into World Class Maritime
Bernama 9 Nov 07;
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 9 (Bernama) -- Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) and the Johore branch of Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) have agreed to cooperate in developing the Sungai Pulai estuary into a world class maritime centre.
In a statement here today, PTP chairman, Datuk Mohd Sidik Othman, said the decision to build a second port in Johor at the mouth of Sungai Pulai was not by chance but by choice.
"There could not have been a more strategic location to develop a mega port capable of competing with the best in the region other than at the mouth of Sungai Pulai.
"This is because the Sungai Pulai mouth is located at the southern tip of Peninsular Malaysia and the confluence of the international trade lanes which go right into one of the world's busiest route, the Straits of Malacca," he said.
Mohd Sidik said the success of the Iskandar Development Region (IDR) would depend largely on the logistics capabilities and efficiency it could provide.
"An efficient integrated logistics will be one of the pillars driving a successful IDR.
"Being one of the major components making up Johor's integrated logistics hub, not only the future development of the port, but also the development of the area surrounding the port complete with marine-related industries and supporting facilities is crucial," he said.
He said the success of PTP would not only bring revenue and value to Johor but would also contribute tremendously to IDR's success and help Malaysia achieve its vision of becoming a fully developed nation by 2020.
"The fully developed PTP will also bring about other strategic values to Johor like the setting up of new businesses, creation of more jobs and attract more skilled labour," he said.
He said the two parties would embark carry out a study on the unique bio-ecology system of the estuary.
"Only after we have known the bio-diversity of the area, we will be able to plan our conservation projects with the help and advice of our experts from MNS," he said.
PTP gets green light for terminal project
Zazali Musa, The Star 13 Nov 07;
GELANG PATAH: Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP), which has received approval from the Department of Environment for its multi-billion ringgit petroleum terminal storage centre, will begin construction next year.
Chairman Datuk Mohd Sidik Shaik Osman said the terminal, on a 2,200-acre site within the port vicinity, would take about 30 months to complete.
“The terminal will supply petroleum for vessels calling at the port and for our own usage,” Sidik told a press conference on Friday.
Development of the area surrounding the port, he said, complete with marine-related industries, would be crucial.
“The choice to build a second port in Johor at the mouth of Sungai Pulai was not by chance but by choice,” Sidik said, adding that there could not have been a more strategic location to develop a mega port capable of competing with the best in the region other than at the mouth of the river. The Sungai Pulai mouth, located at the southern tip of the peninsula, is at the confluence of international trade, which goes right into the world’s busiest strait, the Straits of Malacca.
Sidik said the success of PTP's project would not only bring revenue and value to Johor but would also contribute to the success of the Iskandar Development Region.
He said to date, PTP had managed to attract more than RM10bil in investments to Johor, specifically at the port and the surrounding areas.
Earlier, Sidik presented a RM60,000 cheque to Malaysian Nature Society Johor (MNSJ) chairman Assoc Prof Dr Maketab Mohamed.
The allocation will be used by MNSJ to collect and document data on the unique ecology of the Sungai Pulai estuary, including its flora, fauna and marine species.
Also present at the event were Johor state tourism and environment chairman Freddie Long Hoo Hin and PTP chief executive officer Harun Johari.
