PROMISE 39

Promise 39, among others, states that the government will review approved or ongoing controversial projects to ensure their compliance with established standards. We note with concern some of the ongoing projects that raise serious environmental issues. The projects are:

1)     Land grab involving Taman Rimba Kiara

On 22 April 2019, Federal Territories Minister Khalid Samad said he would submit to the Cabinet a 50% reduction of the proposed Taman Rimba Kiara high-rise project. He further stated that the government needed to resolve the issue as a legal contract had been signed and a development order had also been issued under the previous administration. However, Member of Parliament for Segambut Hannah Yeoh has come out strongly against what she referred to as “compromise solution” which has riled up nearby residents. The Cabinet is expected to meet next month to discuss this matter.

2)     Papar Dam

On 26 March 2019, it was reported that the Sabah State Environment Protection Department had given green light to the proposed construction of Papar Dam although the necessary environmental impact assessment (EIA) reports had yet to be completed. In addition, the Sabah Environmental Protection Association called for a strategic environmental assessment on managing water for the whole state which should be done prior to the EIA.

3)     Dubious land deal involving the Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve

On 4 April 2019, the C4 Center exposed a suspicious land deal that had led to the encroachment of the Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve. It urged the authorities to commence investigation into the deal. Federal Territories Minister Khalid Samad however has yet to respond to this matter.

4)     64 dubious deals involving Kuala Lumpur land

It was reported that on 11 April 2019, the PAC would summon the Attorney General and MACC Commissioner to give statements. The MACC had previously probed the sale of 64 dubious land deals by the DBKL, of which 48 cases were cleared by the MACC. No date is given as to when the hearing before the PAC would take place.

We note that except for the 64 dubious deals involving Kuala Lumpur land, the government has failed to review the cases mentioned above. It is extremely concerning that Malaysia’s green lungs are being dragged into suspicious deals and no measures to ensure accountability are taken to immediately address these cases. We reassert our call for greater scrutiny over sales of government land, and demand the right to know, and the right to greater information over the dealings involving government land.