Published on: Thursday, January 20, 2005 |
CHONG said the call by Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Ismail to stop all coastal development projects in the State was not meant to totally bar development in these areas.
He said Rahim's statement was directed more towards developments that have serious and adverse effects on the environment. Rahim had said Tuesday, following the tsunami tragedy recently, that the time has come for all coastal development projects to be halted.
Rahim said estuaries and mangroves have proved to be an effective form of breakwater in the event of tidal waves. He said the local authorities should review on-going development works being carried out in such areas.
"I fully support but that doesn't mean development in coastal regions would not be allowed (at all)," Chong said.
He said Rahim meant well by saying that developers need to be extra careful when carrying out projects in coastal areas, particularly mangrove forests. Any development project which has no consideration for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report on environmental consequences should not be allowed to commence operations.
"But that doesn't stop planning in respect to tourism development if they comply with environmental conditions.
"So, (there is) no inconsistency (with Rahim's statement and the State's tourism agenda)," he said.
Sabah tops the list where mangrove forest is concerned in Malaysia with 340,689 hectares recorded thus far, much of it gazetted as forest reserves.
Chong, meanwhile, said several abandoned seaside resort projects such as along the Kinarut seafront would be revived to meet the demand for rooms.
"We are sure if they are revived, it will be in compliance with the government policy, including environmental conditions."
