Village chiefs oppose proposed BPOM at Sg Laong, Beluru
MIRI: Persatuan TuaiTuai Rumah Beluru Marudi ( PTRBM) is against the proposed construction of the Bakong palm oil mill ( BPOM) by Sarawak Farmers’ Organisation at Sungai Laong, Beluru in Marudi.
A political secretary to the chief minister Alexander Asing Sadai who represented the association said the proposed plant would not only affect the populace but also the environment.
“We urge the relevant authorities to respectfully reconsider and relook at the proposal and hopefully will not proceed with the project as it is also not economically viable.
“We foresee that the setting up of an independent mill without owning a reasonable size of planted oil palm to support the mill does not bring much economic benefits to the intended community,” said Alexander in a press conference here recently.
Alexander pointed out that oil palm smallholders are adequately
We urge the relevant authorities to respectfully reconsider and relook at the proposal and hopefully will not proceed with the project as it is also not economically viable.
served by a number of existing mills and ramp operators in and around Bakong area.
PTRBM observed that BPOM would serve to benefit certain parties only as explicitly reflected in the proposed equity distribution whereby PPNS will hold 30 per cent shares, National Farmers Organisation ( Nafas) 20 per cent shares, members of Pertubuhan Peladang Kawasan Baram ( PPK Baram) 10 per cent shares while a privately owned company holds 40 per cent shares, said Alexander.
“We are highly pessimistic that members of PPK Baram would be able to fully subscribe to the allotted 10 per cent shares besides having no control over the management and operations of the mill.
“At this juncture, it is our considered view that this particular proposed project spearheaded by PPNS in Bakong area is inconsequential,” he explained.
Alexander noted that residents of the various longhouses which are in close proximity to the proposed mill have not been duly consulted and adequately briefed on the project.
“As the stakeholders we are very concerned on matters that potentially have a far reaching consequences arising from the setting up of the mill.
“We reliably learned that the social and environmental impact assessment ( SEIA) and environmental management plan ( EMP) process have not been carried out accordingly.
“This particular component of the proposed project implementation and management is very critical as it involves among others the process for predicting and assessing the potential environmental and social impacts of proposed projects and thereafter designing an appropriate mitigation, management and monitoring measures,” said Alexander.
As the mill is sited in an area surrounded by various longhouses, any untreated discharge of the mill’s toxic waste into the rivers and streams would potentially cause a catastrophic environmental and social consequences, he stressed.
“Rivers and streams are still very much the only source of drinking water and aquatic life of these rural communities. Potentially, the directly affected river is Sungai Laong which is a tributary of upper Sungai Bakong whereby a few kilometres downstream is a Water Board of Northern Area ( Laku) raw water intake point for its water treatment plant.
“This particular treatment plant supply treated water to Beluru and Subis districts as well as to the entire Miri city,” he added.
Alexander Asing Sadai, Persatuan Tuai-Tuai Rumah Beluru Marudi representative