Save Santubong’s ‘Blue Pool’ petition urges govt to relocate proposed complex
KUCHING: The state government has been urged to reconsider the construction of the Al-Falak Complex and a 2km access road in Santubong due to their impact on a magnificent natural pool known as the ‘Blue Pool’ besides a large swathe of forest and its wildlife.
Permai Rainforest Resort managing director Rahim Bugo said the RM100 million project, which was expected to begin soon, has been catching flak from nature lovers and hikers, prompting him to launch an online petition to call for a review of the project.
He said the petition, launched about a month ago, would be delivered to Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg and the Sarawak Islamic Department (Jais) as the key decision makers, to urge them to find an alternative solution.
“The petition is against the construction of the complex. Not the establishment of the complex but the site of the complex. If they want to build a complex it’s not a problem, but why does it have to be there?” Rahim said when contacted by The Borneo Post.
At the time of writing, the petition entitled, ‘To prevent the construction of a road through the western coast of Santubong’, on Change.Org had garnered 8,982 signatures.
Since launching the petition and a Facebook page dedicated to saving the Blue Pool and its surrounding areas, Rahim has faced naysayers as his property, Permai Rainforest Resort or Camp Permai, would be affected by the project.
When contacted, an official from the Sarawak Mufti Department said they have heard of some complaints from certain quarters against the RM100 mil project in social media, as well as some individuals directly contacting them.
However, he added, the project is now at the planning stage at the Public Works Department (JKR).
“There have been some individuals contacting us directly to complain about the projects. We have also heard about some people objecting to the project in social media.
“However the government has approved the project in 2015, so it will go ahead,” he said when contacted.
The official said all the design and planning of the complex building and access road will be done by JKR, and there has been no word yet on when the project will start.
Asked if he had a vested interest in opposing the project, Rahim replied: “Yes I have an interest, but I’ve always had this stance on environmental issues. So there’s a lot of ways you can contribute to conservation. You can join cleanup, you can pay NGOs to do it for you, or you can pick a place and take care of it. That’s what I’m doing.
“I’m not a millionaire to have any (monetary) interest there. I make a living and I provide jobs for some people. So my interest is to provide enjoyment for hundreds and thousands of people.
“We get 200 to 400 hikers a weekend going through the hiking trails to the Blue Pool. So if they are enjoying it, is it my self interest or theirs (hikers)? So maybe I’m protecting mine (interest) but I’m also protecting a lot of other people’s interest,” said Rahim.
The construction of the Al-Falak Complex was approved in 2015 by the state government and is undertaken by the Sarawak Mufti Department.
Borneo Post Online had reported on Oct 19, 2015, that the then State Mufti Datu Kipli Yassin said the Sarawak Al-Falak Complex would house a gallery and a number of study areas.
“The complex will also be the platform for moon-sighting to decide key dates in Islam such as Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Aidiladha, as well as an observatory,” he said, adding that the complex had potential to become a tourism attraction.
Rahim said the project involved the construction of the 2km road from the entrance of Camp Permai to Tanjung Salleh, where the complex is located.
What irked him and fellow hikers most was that the proposed road would cross through pristine forests on the border of Santubong National Park.
“The proposed road will cross at least seven streams, and the environmental damage will be terrible. How do you build a bridge over a small stream without damaging it?” he asked.
In the petition, Rahim said the negative consequence of building the road was expected to be huge and devastating both ecologically and to the enjoyment of the area by the citizens of Kuching and visitors.