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Friday, August 22, 2014

Felda’s sturgeon project halted pending DEIA


The Federal Land Development Authority’s (Felda) controversial sturgeon rearing project at Taman Negara, Pahang has been put on hold pending a detailed environmental impact assessment.

The decision follows a meeting with the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) and local activists who oppose the RM150 million project that was already being set up at Kuala Tahan, Pahang.

The Fisheries Department lists the sturgeon as one of the species not allowed into Malaysia.

Environmentalists are also concerned about forest clearing, erosion, pollution and other issues, on top of ruining the forest reserve's pristine conditions and the sturgeon's threat to other native species.

According to the anti-Kuala Tahan sturgeon farming campaign movement Facebook page, whether or not the project will proceed will depend on the Environment Department’s decision based on the DEIA.

“Felda was also advised to take several measures, including to respect the sensitivities of the Taman Negara residents by conducting briefings and dialogues with the residents at Kuala Tahan itself (and not in Jerantut as previously held),” it said.

Felda was also told to consider the views of the majority of the residents on the project, which involves rearing the predatory fish for their roe for the purpose of making caviar.

The decision was made by Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaacob, after a briefing on the project involving the executive council and anti-sturgeon farming activists on Wednesday.

Felda: We’ll follow law

When contacted, a Felda spokesperson said that the company “will always abide to the law like other companies”.

“There is no such thing as we can go ahead without going through (due) processes.

'We will make an announcement once it starts to commence. There are a lot of processes,” he said.

He also noted that there are already sturgeon farming projects in other parts of the country.

He added that asking if the project, a joint-venture with a Korean company, has DEIA when only the groundwork has been done, is like asking a property developer if an ongoing property development has a certificate of fitness.

Led by MNS, the anti-Kuala Tahan sturgeon farming project’s memorandum to the Environment Department last week had prompted the authorities to look into the matter.

The movement is fast gaining momentum, with the activists arguing that the predatory fish undermines the local eco-system, and poses a risk to the livelihood of the still nomadic Orang Asli tribes in the area.

According to mStar, 20 hectares of land along the Sungai Tebung bank located two kilometres away from upstream Sungai Tembeling will be used to build fish ponds to farm the fish.

Stalwart sturgeon-farming project supporter and former local Umno Youth leader Wan Zamzuri Wan Hasenan recently courted controversy by using terms insulting to the Orang Asli when condemning the group protesting the project.

Wan Zamzuri was also part of the exco briefing on the project on Wednesday, but clarified that he has no commercial interests in the project other than to encourage development in his hometown.

“I can be whatever you want me to be according to your interpretation. That is how powerful I am in Pahang,” he quipped, when asked how he had come to attend the briefing.

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