IPOH, Jan 11 — Two environmental non-governmental organisations (NGO) are urging Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad to take stern action against the ongoing illegal sand mining activity at the Pasir Panjang beach in Manjung.
The two NGOs are Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) and Persatuan Aktivis Sahabat Alam (KUASA).
SAM’s field researcher, Meor Razak Meor Abdul Rahman said it had been observed that this activity was still going on, ignoring the prohibition by the relevant authorities.
“This shows that the irresponsible parties have no respect for the supremacy of the law.
“Therefore, I urge that the Menteri Besar as the state executive councillor in charge on the land, forestry and natural resources portfolio and as chairman of the State Planning Committee as well as a member of the National Physical Planning Council pay attention to this issue and take action against those who defy the decision of the relevant authorities,” he said in a statement, here, today.
Based on the National Physical Planning document, all the turtle landing areas in Peninsular Malaysia have been categorised as Environmentally Sensitive Areas, Level 1 (KSAS Tahap 1) which cannot be used for any activity and changes made to the land use except for low-impact eco-tourism and research and education.
Meor Razak said the coastal area from the Pasir Panjang Recreation Forest until the Pasir Pandak beach, Tanjung Hantu had recorded frequent turtle landings based on their nests discovered and their eggs gathered by collectors appointed by the Fisheries Department.
“Due to its importance and to ensure preservation of the ecosystem of the beach area between Pasir Panjang and Tanjung Hantu, we have been cooperating with the state and federal governments under the Malaysia Greening Programme and National Coastal Tree Planting Programme since 2013.
“Based on the State Government Gazette, the area is part of the Virgin Forest Reserve of Tanjung Hantu which had been degazetted (Gazette No. 89 dated Feb 2, 1989).
“The sand mining activity is feared to disturb and destroy the physical structure of the beach area and could even no longer be a suitable landing area for turtles to lay their eggs,” he added.
Meor Razak said the sand mining activity and change in land use at the Pasir Panjang beach area could also derail the state and federal governments’ efforts in the Planting of 1,000,000 Trees Programme and National Coastal Tree Planting Programme.
“The state authorities must take action to stop and disallow such an activity and any change in the land use in the area at risk, especially the turtle landing locations.
“It is also apt for the relevant authority to gazette back the area categorised as KSAS Level 1 as a permanent forest reserve or as a protected area,” he said.
On Jan 3, director of the Perak Land and Mines Office, Datuk Mohamad Fariz Mohamad Hanip said that the works at the site had been detected since last November and with the cooperation of the Manjung Municipal Council, it was ordered to stop while waiting for approval.
He said that on checking the application, the company involved wished to develop the area as it had the potential for mining of sand for silica.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency