MP asks why cement plant operating despite stop order
KOTA KINABALU: Democratic Action Party (DAP) Member of Parliament for Kota Kinabalu, Chan Foong Hin has questioned how a cement batching plant located nearby Taman Kim Leng could resume its operation since early this year as this is in defiance of a StopWork Order issued by City Hall prior to the Sabah State Election last year.
“I had received numerous complaints from residents of Taman Kim Leng about the cement dust pollution and noise pollution emanating from the cement batching plant built near their housing estate even before the state elections last year.
“I can’t believe that this matter has not been resolved till now. Chin Wei Teck, a member of the Taman Kim Leng Residents Committee, had contacted me yesterday and informed me that the plant has quietly resumed operation, which is in defiance of the Stop Work order,” said Chan in a statement yesterdayafter conducting a spot-check together with DAP assemblyman for Likas Tan Lee Fatt at the cement batching plant near Lorong Pokok Merbau 1 adjacent to Taman Kim Leng behind Queen Elizabeth II Hospital at Damai.
Chan said that after a townhall session between former mayor Datuk Nordin Siman and the residents on August 28 last year, City Hall had issued a Stop Work Order suspending the operation of the plant whilst licence conditions were being reviewed by the City Hall.
However, without the Stop Work Order being lifted, the plant is back in active operation since January this year after four months of inactivity.
“Datuk Nordin had at that time clarified that no operating licence had ever been issued by City Hall to the said cement batching plant, and that no decision to allow the plant to operate had been made pending Department of Environment (DOE)’s report,” he said.
Chan noted that the cement batching or mixing plant is located on the construction site of a nearby twin tower condominium development project, and that the developer of the project had said that operations at the plant would take place temporarily until the condominiums has been completed.
However, more than 30 residents who attended the townhall session with City Hall were all adamant and insisted on stopping the operation of the cement batching plant.
“After a long negotiation process, the Warisan Plus Sabah state government at the time had listened to the residents and finally put its foot down and issued the Stop Work Order in August before the state elections, in the best interest of the public,” said Chan.
He noted that during his spot-check, he had verified that the plant is only 50 meters away from the nearest house in Taman Kim Leng.
According to him, the same does not comply with the “Guidelines for Siting and Zoning of Industry and Residential Areas” issued by the DOE which requires a cement batching plants which is listed under MSIC Code 232392395 to maintain a 300-meter buffer distance from the existing residential area. (http://www.doe.gov.my/eia/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/GuidelinesFor-Siting-and-Zoning-ofIndustry-and-Residental-Areas2012.pdf)
“I am made to understand that according to existing DOE guidelines, it is necessary for cement batching plants to maintain a 300-meter buffer distance from the existing residential area. A mere 50metres would mean that the guideline is not being complied with,” he said.
Chan said that he totally understands the plight of the residents as pollutions emanating from this cement batching plant would ultimately affect the health of residents, and that such public health hazard cannot be allowed to continue.
“There is a change of Sabah state government from Warisan Plus to GRS after the election, but is there a change in government policy on the control of public health hazard and safety as well? Has this GRS state government decided to lift the Stop Work Order meant to protect residents, thus rendering it no longer valid? Is it GRS’s policy to allow the public to suffer from foreseeable health hazards?” questioned Chan.
He noted that the buffer zone to residential area alone will never be sufficient, and the same is enough to prevent the restarting of this cement batching plant, ever.
“The question is, who is ignoring the suspension order and has insisted on the re-operating of this cement batching and mixing plant? The City Hall and the DOE should take the matter seriously and address it by starting an investigation and take actions,” he stressed.