Negri turns down RM8bil investment
NILAI: The state government has rejected an RM8bil investment from a company based in the Middle East to set up a petrochemical plant in Port Dickson.
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the state authorities had decided not to accept the investment as it was a potential environment hazard.
“We want to preserve our mangroves and our pristine beaches. We do not want to be spending a lot more money later to rehabilitate our beaches which are the best south of Kuala Lumpur,” he told reporters at the soft launch of the RM60mil Nilai Springs Resort Hotel here.
Mohamad looking at a section of the lunch buffet after opening the Nilai Springs Resort Hotel while Gan looks on
Mohamad said the state government also rejected the bid as the site chosen by the company was a forest reserve.
He said the state government would not allow such projects along the coastline.
“No structures should be built on the sea as these could also have an adverse impact on the environment,” he said.
On a separate matter, Mohamad said an American company would build a RM400mil manufacturing plant in Bandar Enstek.
“They have signed a land purchase agreement with us and earth works are expected to start soon,” he said, without revealing the name of the company.
It would employ up to 750 workers when in full operation.
Mohamad said an international school would also be built in Nilai next year to cater to the needs of the expatriate community living in the state. “Most of these expatriates, particularly South Koreans and Japanese, are forced to live in Kuala Lumpur because we do not have an international school here.”
Mohamad also congratulated Tan Sri Gan Kong Seng, the chairman of PK Resources and owner of the four-star Nilai Springs Resort Hotel for having the foresight to build the 183-room hotel here.
“This is a strategic location and its proximity to the KLIA, Putrajaya, Cyberjaya and the Formula 1 circuit certainly gives it an advantage over others,” he added.
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My response
Dear YAB Mentri Besar of Negeri Sembilan
Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan
May I dedicate my greatest respect and congratulate you for such a courageous act in the name of environmental management and preservation. It must be hard for you to make such an unpopular decision but what is right is still right.
I'm not from Negri Sembilan but Port Dickson is like a getaway home to my family. You are very right to say that the NS Government will spend so much money on rehabilitation if the project allowed to be carried out.
As a result of unsustainable development, the marine life in Port Dickson is deteriorating badly - coral reefs, fish, etc. Thus, the fast pace of development without guarantee of safeguarding the environment should be put to halt immediately. Efforts to restore the marine life must be carried out now!
In those good old days, almost everywhere in Port Dickson used to look like Tanjung Tuan. Tanjung Tuan has now become a role model where no unsustainable development is allowed - Tanjung Tuan is a cape of natural coastal forest with mangroves and good for bird watching.
The petrochemical industry pumps out petroleum and chemicals through miles of pipeline. Mainly offshore - commonly, it cuts through the coastal wetlands (hence cutting into the swamp) bringing salt water inland 'murdering' the trees which stand as natural 'erode proof' - Wetlands will soon loosing it's buffer of protection and eventually more land will vanish.
Furthermore, do not underestimate the power of global warming. It can push up sea levels hence exposing the coastline to be more fragile to natural disasters (even how small it would be)
YAB Datuk Seri
I wish every MB would take you as an example. Development is fine with me but by compromising the environment is not acceptable.
We still have people cutting trees indiscriminately and in the end, these same people started to complain about how hot it is to stay in their place where they are living.
This is really happening to the place where I'm staying - Taman Seri Gombak (which ironically many people tend to forget the name of this place - I don't know why) and I feel very dissapointed with the current pace of unsustainable development.
People who do not know how to preserve the environment today will create a dark future for their own generation tommorrow
Thanks and regards - YAB - keep up the good work
Wassalam.
NIK ZAFRI
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