THE Department of Environment (DOE) has apparently rejected an application by a developer to carry out a massive land reclamation project in Pekan Klebang, Melaka.
Citing a source, Malaysiakini reported that the DOE had rejected the developers’ environmental impact assessment (EIA) report on March 2.
“(The EIA report) did not fulfil requirements under Section 34A(2C) of the Environmental Quality Act 1974,” the source was reported as saying.
Section 34A (2) of the Act states that an EIA report “shall contain an assessment of the impact such activity will have or is likely to have on the environment” and “proposed measures that shall be undertaken to prevent, reduce or control the adverse impact on the environment”.
The developer is Konsortium Pembangunan Tanah Laut (Melaka) Sdn Bhd, which is owned by Melaka UMNO deputy chief Mohamad Ali Mohamad.
Melaka’s former deputy exco Ghazale Muhamad, another UMNO leader, owns the concession areas under the proposed project.
It was said that their companies were awarded the concession areas when Ghazale was the deputy exco overseeing related matters, raising allegations on conflict of interest.
Project AJA, under the Melaka Waterfront Economic Zone (M-WEZ) blueprint, plans to reclaim 300 acres of land in the water area around Pekan Klebang.
With that, M-WEZ is expected to take up 25,000 acres of land and cover 33km of Malacca coastline. – March 20, 2022
