Sabah Environmental Protection Association

We are a newly formed civil society coalition who appeal to the State Government to take steps to ensure that promises made in regards to sustainable development be fulfilled through implementation of existing laws and procedures.

Sabah is an area of significant cultural heritage and biodiversity and and we must ensure that future generations are still able to benefit from this and not have to deal with environmental disasters we leave them.

We are a speaking up on behalf of Sabah, its people and future generations in the hope of obtaining Development Justice. We have named our coalition GUAS which translates to the word tree in Kadazandusun or the main trunk of the tree.

We welcome other groups to join us. Currently GUAS comprises of the following members:

• Greenfriends
• Himpunan Hijau
• Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia – JOAS
• PACOS Trust
• Sabah Environmental Protection Association – SEPA
• Sabah Women’s Action Group – SAWO
• Save Open Space Kota Kinabalu – SOS KK

Today, we would like to highlight the following issues :

1. Examples of ongoing failures in existing environmental safeguards:
   • The proposed Kaiduan Dam without the consent or agreement by local community. No documentation has been provided to objectively demonstrate whether or not the dam is essential in order to provide future piped water supplies for western Sabah. No concrete documents or studies have been forwarded by the responsible agencies to the community or NGOs.
   • The destruction for a PEMANDU & SEDIA aquaculture project of healthy mangrove forest in Pitas, and Kudat. These mangroves areas have been utilised by local communities for their source of protein and livelihood., In Pitas land was cleared prior to the approval of the EIA (2,300 acres according to the EIA submitted). A similar situation is seen in Kudat. Both projects began before the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was approved. And there are reports of ongoing clearing outside the companies designated areas in Pitas and continued clearing in Kudat, even though the company has been compounded by the relevant government agencies.  This matter has been reported to the agencies by the communities and NGOs and is still being investigated.
   • The degazettement of a Class I Forest Reserve in 2013 to make way for a proposed gold mining project close to Tawau Hill Park, and surrounded by Class I Forest Reserve. The Terms of Reference (ToR) for this proposal have been rejected twice at the Panel review meetings chaired by  Environmental Protection Department.  A third ToR is going to be tabled at a Panel meeting on Wednesday, July 1^st. Why was Forest Reserve degazetted for a proposal that lacked an EIA? With Mamut Copper Mine a lasting environmental disaster, does Sabah necessarily want another copper mine??

2. The 11^th Malaysian Plan 2016-2020 (11MP) was revealed by the Prime Minister in May 2015 as being pro-growth, pro-people, pro-business, environment friendly and emphasis on nation building. We applaud this statement – we are all for environmentally friendly projects but fixing environments after they are exploited and damaged is not only a costly exercise but a long process.  We should instead focus on protecting the environment we have now and focusing on sustainable development in areas that are not environmentally sensitive and/or  designated as a cultural heritage.

National and State environmental laws, regulations and procedures are in place. Why are we not using them?

More and more we see the rule of law being disregarded by companies, why does this issue keep repeating itself? Compunding these companies do not seem to be acting as a deterrent.

We also note there is a lack of specific initiatives for Orang Asal communities in Peninsular and East Malaysia, this would hurt the 11MP’s aim of lifting the incomes of the Bottom 40% (B40) of households.

According to Assoc Prof Dr Madeline Berma, an economist with Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia as quoted in the media, this is because a majority of Orang Asal communities in the Peninsular, Sabah and Sarawak are at the bottom of the B40.

The Federal government has approval from Parliament to spend RM260 billion on the 11MP which is the government’s final push to bring Malaysia to high-income nation status.

One third of the 11MP is focused on inclusive growth, including raising the incomes of the B40, reducing costs of living, supporting the disabled and building rural infrastructure.

Thank you.

For further information, please contact us at: guas.sabah@gmail.com

PRESS RELEASE: SEPA Warns of Breakdown on Environmental Safeguards in Sabah

Kota Kinabalu, 12^th October 2014: In a statement issued today, the Sabah Environmental Protection Association (SEPA) warns that the ‘rule of law’ in Sabah is being disregarded and projects that are unsustainable are being fast tracked without following proper procedures.

“The recent floods in Sabah are a result of breakdown of Sabah’s environmental safeguards as we have seen how blatantly unsustainable development is taking place,” said SEPA President, Lanash Thanda.

Defining “unsustainable developments” as development that occurs at the expense of future generations, SEPA said the State Government must ensure that safeguards placed in terms of laws, regulations and policies be adhered too to ensure that future generations do not suffer from mistakes made today.

“Irresponsible planning, non-adherence to due process, disregard for the laws, and environmental degradation through exploitation of resources generates waste and pollution. Such practices are not sustainable in the long term and it is our children and our grandchildren and great grandchildren that will have to bear the burden. We cannot allow this to happen, we must do better and this is simple enough to do by following laws, regulations, policies and procedures that we already have, these are our environmental safeguards, we have them and we must use them,” said Lanash.

SEPA also stated that interference from interested parties to fast track and by pass environmental safeguards enshrined in legislation must stop and civil servants must be allowed to carry out there jobs without fear of political interference of any sort.

“In the past the people of Sabah could rely on the planning and environmental laws that are available in the State to eliminate environmental hazards, pollution, environmental impacts and corruption that would ultimately affect the people. However this system is now being eroded by being by-passed or fast tracked,” warned Lanash.

SEPA cited examples such as the 2,300 acres of the Aquaculture project in Pitas where pristine mangrove swamps were cleared before receiving approval for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as mandated by the State law. Another case in the city itself is the recent hill clearing/cutting for the new Court Complex on Jalan Sharrif Osman which is being carried out without following the necessary procedures. Even the Tanjung Aru Eco Development project is attempting to set the Terms of Reference for the Special Environmental Impact Assessment without having a finalised Masterplan.

“These three examples are only the tip of the iceberg and we cannot in good conscience allow such blatant disregard for the rule of law as ultimately it will affect the well being of communities and future development of Sabah,” stated Lanash.

SEPA points out that in the past year alone, the media have been filled with environmental incidences of flash floods, hill cutting, water issues, pollution, communities livelihoods affected, human-wildlife conflict. All these factors in some way or another can be contributed to development that has been conducted unsustainably and is linked to the breakdown of these environmental safeguards.

“The rule of law and its due process has to be respected and followed by all, to ensure that these environmental safeguards are maintained to protect the integrity of Sabah. No one person, group, agency or organisation should be allowed to intervene and override the existing due process,” concluded Lanash.

Ends

Pictures

Part of the 2,300 acres of the Aquaculture project in Pitas have been cleared before receiving approval for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as mandated by the State law.

Part of the 2,300 acres of the Aquaculture project in Pitas have been cleared before receiving approval for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as mandated by the State law.

The 2,300 acres of the Aquaculture project in Pitas where pristine mangrove swamps were cleared before receiving approval for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as mandated by the State law.

Recent hill clearing/cutting for the new Court Complex on Jalan Sharrif Osman which is being carried out without following the necessary procedures.

Tanjung Aru Eco Development project is attempting to set the Terms of Reference for the Special Environmental Impact Assessment without having a finalised Masterplan.

The Star, 2 March 2014

source: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/12/27/state-a-partner-in-destruction-of-pitas-mangrove/

The Borneo Post, 29 December 2013 : Firm denies role in mangrove clearing

Daily Express -29.12.13-PG1-FIRMA USAHASAMA BERI PENJELASAN

Source : http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/mangrove-clearing-in-sabah-whos-responsible-james-alin

Daily Express-25.12.13-PG3 -JPAS KENAKAN PERINTAH BERHENTI KERJA KEDUA, KOMPAUN RM30,000

PRESS RELEASE

Kota Kinabalu, 22nd September 2013: Since the Prime Minister launched the Tanjung Aru Eco Development (TAED) on the 16th of September 2013, Sabah Environmental Protection Association (SEPA) has been inundated with calls and emails asking about continued public access to the beach.

“People are understandably concerned, having already experienced losing public spaces to tourism like Pantai Dalit in Tuaran and climbing Mount Kinabalu before the accommodation was privatised and prices rose astronomically. Will Tanjung Aru Beach become a playground for only the rich?” asked Lanash Thanda the President of SEPA.

The number one question SEPA is being asked is if the public will continue to have access to the beach once the hotels are built according to Lanash.

It seems the only information the public has had access to is the concept map published in the local newspaper and a giant signboard that states “Returning Tanjung Aru to the people of Sabah: Rehabilitating the Beach, Regenerating the Park, Rejuvenating Tourism”.

“How can you ‘return’ something the public already understands they have? And does this mean that that Prince Phillip Park will be given more space?” Lanash said sharing just some questions that have been posed.

Most concerns she noted was raised based on the concept, which shows that that they will be 10 tourism projects that include brand name hotels, service apartments and a marina. They also seem to be different versions of the concept map with slightly different designs and one which includes a golf course.
“This is the era of public participation, SEPA urges that a Special EIA be conducted due to the sensitivity of this issue.” stated Lanash.

Knowing how important Tanjung Aru is for all the people of Sabah, the Government needs to be transparent on the project and SEPA has been informed that an office is in the process of being set up and once it is up, the public can get their answers.

To ensure public participation and transparency, Lanash urges the government to quicken the setting up of this office so the public concerns can be addressed.

We have been alerted by experts on water quality and hydrology that due to direct effluent discharge and high erosion factor something needs to be done to ensure the aesthetic beauty of Tanjung Aru is retained and that continued easy public access is ensured for the people of Sabah for future generations,” concluded Lanash.

Sabah Environmental Protection Association
SEPA

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