Letter to Editor                                       20 April 2019

In conjunction with Earth Day April  22nd this year, Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) would like to highlight the fact that at least one-fifth of mammal species found in Malaysia is facing extinction.  That is according to a data provided by the World Bank in 2015, which revealed  that in 2014 as many as 70 species out of 336 mammals were in danger.  This special classification ranks Malaysia seventh in the world, while in Southeast Asia it is second only to Indonesia which counts 184 species at risk (the first in the world).

Malaysia  is the  most dangerous country in the world for species already at risk.   The continuous emergence of wildlife news in the media warrants serious attention from the government and the relevant authorities. From snaring, roadkills, elephant wreaking havoc on villagers and destroying crops, primates at risk, killing of sunbears to consumption of turtle eggs, sale of wildlife through social media and the list goes on.

Elephants are seriously endangered because of endless human encroachment into their habitats. Once rampages occur in a village they are characterised as rogue elephants for intrusion into human space, when rightfully, the land was originally theirs. In cases of villagers, farms and plantations closing in on wild habitats, wildlife is always the losers.

Press Statement                                     19 April 2019

CAP and SAM are relieved to read the clarification by Federal Territories Minister Khalid Abdul Samad that the National Physical Planning Council (NPPC) has not approved the Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project.

We welcome very much the decision of the NPPC not to approve the reclamation project as yet but to give 18 conditions to the state government, and to ask the state to engage with local communities and ensure their needs are considered.

Yesterday we had expressed dismay about the statement by Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow that the NPPC had approved the project with 18 “advices,”  after the NPPC meeting chaired by the Prime Minister.

Press Release                                         18 April 2019

The Consumers Association Penang (CAP) and Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) are shocked and disturbed to learn that the controversial Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project has been given the go-ahead by the National Physical Planning Council (NPPC),with the imposition of 18 points of advice (nasihat) to the Penang State Government.

We do not know how the PSR could be approved when there were huge financial, social and environmental concerns over the project, including its effects on the livelihoods of local fishermen who will be affected by the project.

Kenyataan Akhbar                                  18 April 2019

Persatuan Pengguna Pulau Pinang (CAP) dan Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) amat terkejut dan kecewa apabila mendapati bahawa Projek Tambak Laut Selatan Pulau Pinang (PSR) yang menjadi kontroversi telah diberikan kebenaran untuk meneruskan projek oleh Majlis Perancangan Fizikal Negara (NPPC), dengan mengenakan 18 perkara sebagai nasihat kepada Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang.

Kami tidak mengetahui bagaimana PSR boleh diluluskan apabila terdapat begitu banyak kebimbangan mengenai kewangan, sosial dan alam sekitar yang amat besar terhadap projek itu, termasuklah kesannya ke atas kehidupan nelayan tempatan yang akan terjejas oleh projek itu.

Press Release                                         15 April 2019

The Consumers’ Association of Penang(CAP) and Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) are very upset by the Penang Chief Minister’s announcement today that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Pan-Island Link (PIL) has been approved by the Department of Environment (DOE) with 56 conditions.

We are also shocked that the DOE has approved the EIA despite the public feedback.

We were among many thousands of Penangites and groups who had voiced our deep concerns over the EIA, which had many flaws.

We totally disagree with the Chief Minister of Penang, Y.B. Chow, who claims that the PIL EIA approval marks a milestone in addressing the traffic woes in Penang.

Kenyataan akhbar                                  15 April 2019

Persatuan Pengguna Pulau Pinang (CAP) dan Sahabat Alam Malaysia Malaysia (SAM) amat kecewa dengan pengumuman Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang hari ini bahawa Penilaian Kesan Alam Sekitar (EIA) untuk Pan-Island Link (PIL) telah diluluskan oleh Jabatan Alam Sekitar (JAS) dengan 56 syarat.

Kami juga amat terkejut JAS telah meluluskan EIA walaupun mendapat maklum balas daripada orang awam.

Kami adalah antara ribuan penduduk Pulau Pinang dan kumpulan yang telah menyuarakan kebimbangan kami mengenai EIA, yang mempunyai banyak kecacatan.

Kami tidak bersetuju sepenuhnya dengan Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang, Y.B. Chow, yang mendakwa kelulusan EIA PIL merupakan satu peristiwa penting dalam menangani masalah lalu lintas di Pulau Pinang.

Press Statement                                     8 April 2019

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) is concerned with the recent arsenic pollution in Sungai Rui Gerik, Perak as not only is it affecting the water quality and the marine eco system but the lives of humans are in danger if the problem is not addressed immediately.

Thus, SAM urges the Perak government, department of Environment (DOE), Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JAS) and the local authority to conduct continuous monitoring in order to ensure that the mining operation which is believed to be the cause of the pollution no longer carries out unlawful activities.

SAM regrets that eventhough Sungai Rui has been polluted for more than 30 years, yet no adequate action has been taken by the parties involved to overcome it. SAM believes that if the condition persists, there would be threats and adverse effects resembling the disasters that hit Sungai Kim Kim in Johor.

Kenyataan Akbar                                     8 April 2019

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) merasa bimbang berhubung kejadian pencemaran arsenik di Sungai Rui Gerik Perak kerana ia bukan saja menjejaskan kualiti air sungai berkenaan dan hidupan di dalamnya tetapi juga boleh meragut nyawa manusia jika masalah ini gagal ditangani dengan berkesan.

Justeru SAM menggesa kerajaan Perak, Jabatan Alam Sekitar (JAS), Jabatan Pengairan dan Saliran (JPS) dan Pihak Berkuasa Tempatan (PBT) melakukan pemantauan secara berterusan bagi memastikan operasi perlombongan yang dipercayai menjadi punca pencemaran ini tidak lagi melakukan perbuatan yang menyalahi undang-undang itu.

SAM kesal walau pun Sungai Rui mengalami pencemaran sejak lebih 30 tahun yang lalu namun tidak ada tindakan berkesan yang diambil oleh pihak berkenaan bagi menanganinya. SAM percaya jika keadaan ini dibiarkan, ancaman dan kesan buruk menyerupai bencana yang menimpa Sungai Kim Kim di Johor mungkin berlaku pada masa akan datang.

Surat Kepada Pengarang                          6 April 2019

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) dan Persatuan Pengguna Pulau Pinang (CAP) menyatakan bahawa Lynas perlu berhenti mengelirukan orang ramai mengenai sisanya.

Kami menyatakan perkara ini sebagai maklum balas kepada Lynas Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. bahawa kenyataan yang dikeluarkan oleh kami di dalam media “tidak berfakta tepat” apabila kami berkata sisa daripada proses pembersihan air lupus ‘water leached purification’ (WLP) perlu dikeluarkan dari Malaysia, memandangkan sisa ini tidak boleh dianggap sebagai bahan radioaktif yang terujud secara semula jadi (naturally-occurring radioactive material - NORM), tetapi pada hakikatnya ia adalah sisa yang berpunca daripada peningkatan dengan teknologi, dan yang seterusnya diubah suai menjadikannya bahan yang lebih berbahaya.  

Perkara yang mengelirukan adalah dakwaan Lynas bahawa ianya “fakta saintifik” yang sisa WLP “terdapat secara semula jadi”. Lynas mendakwa TIADA peningkatan teknologi yang meningkatkan tahap radioaktif kerana sisa thorium dan uranium ujud secara semula jadi.