CAP: Halt sand dredging and mining in Tg Bungah
GEORGE TOWN: The Consumers Association Of Penang (CAP) and Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) yesterday urged the DAP-led Penang state government to immediately halt sand dredging and mining at the estuaries of Sungai Kelian and Sungai Kechil in Tanjung Bungah, here.
CAP and SAM president SM Mohamed Idris said such activities were destroying the beaches and the coastline in the areas concerned.
“The removal of sand from a highly populated part of Penang i destroying the beach environment there. Beautifying the beach in a hotel stretch of beach in another part of Penang is like ‘robbing Peter to pay Paul’.
“This is unethical, immoral and worthy of strong condemnation,” he said in statement, here.
The state government should also reveal if an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study was done for sand dredging and mining in Tanjung Bungah and what the results were.
The Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) should immediately halt sand dredging and mining works along the beaches and seas in Penang until further notice.
Mohamed Idris said the state government and the DID should reveal what other plans or actions they have for sand dredging and mining and allow the public to scrutinise and make comments. — Bernama PENDANG: Twenty male students of Maahad Al-Fatoni, Bukit Kobah, were left without a roof over their heads after their dormitory was destroyed in a fire last Friday night.
Operation Commander of Alor Setar Fire and Rescue station, Senior Fire Officer 1 Ramlan Mohd Ariff said the incident occurred at about 9.35pm, at the second floor of the new school building. The operation involved one fire engine, seven firemen, an officer and a fire engine. Assistance was also received from 14 firemen from Tanah Merah, Seberang Nyonya and Simpang Empat Rangkaian Volunteer Fire Brigades.
According to Ramlan, early investigations revealed about 90 per cent of the dormitory was razed but no casualties were reported. — Bernama