THE CALL FOR JUSTICE 
Map showing the proposed development of petrochemical and maritime hub earmarked on a 913-hectare mangrove forest (multi-coloured patch areas).
THE PROJECT - is a petrochemical and maritime hub, along with other heavy industries slated to be built on a 913-ha mangrove forest in Sungai Pulai. The project owner is the Malaysian Mining Corporation (MMC) who also owned the Port of Tanjung Pelepas and Tanjung Bin coal-fired powerplant.
THE ENVIRONMENT - will likely be subject to significant adverse impact in view of the scale and nature of the proposed development. It is a shame that the project site - which was once a gazetted mangrove reserve and accorded the status of "Environmental Sensitive Area Rank 1" - is to be turned into a petrochemical and maritime hub.
Note: The National Physical Plan (2005) provisions dictates that no logging, agricultural activities and industrial development are allowed in Environmental Sensitive Area (ESA) Rank 1
Sungai Pulai Ramsar Site - a wetlands of international importance lies adjacent to the proposed petrochemical and maritime hub, will also be affected. Despite the contradictions with existing policies to preserve ecosystem and biodiversity, the authority has granted developer the greenlight to develop the area. Clearing work started since June 2009 has reduced the 913-ha mangrove forest by a quarter now.
THE PEOPLE - who are mainly fishermen and the indigenous Seletar communities, are being deprived of their source of livelihoods. They also have to bear health risks for residing close to a petrochemical plant. Developed countries like Canada, US and Taiwan imposed a transition zone of at least 3 km for sitting petrochemical industries from residential areas. The minimum transition buffer of 500 m set by the Malaysia Environmental Regulation is far from adequate.
THE VOICE - of the people have been brought up through a series of campaigns and memorandum submissions calling for the project to be scrapped. Supporting the protest are nine Malaysian NGOs calling for the mangrove clearing to be halt immediately. The Johor State Chief Minister Dato' Haji Abdul Ghani B. Othman, and the Prime Minister have yet to respond to the matter. See media highlights.
