THE Barisan Nasional opposition in Penang today said seabed mining in the state has reached critical levels, but this has been squarely denied by state environmental exco Phee Boon Poh.

State opposition leader Jahara Hamid (BN-Teluk Air Tawar) said BN had a mapping of such activities when it was in government and that there were no more locations for sand to be harvested.

“Sucking up sand will destroy the marine ecosystem. When the damage is done, it cannot be remedied.

“It is now critical. (The state government) will say there is no such thing, but it is going on,” she told reporters during a press conference.

Jahara did not offer clear details or examples of where the seabed was being harvested, but told reporters that if the ongoing state legislative assembly could wrap up by tomorrow, she could take them to see the locations.

She added that immediate action must be taken against such activities and the state must pay serious attention to the reports of experts and the Environmental Department on cases that impacted the environment.

Phee said there were no approved seabed mining activities in the state and they were also unaware of illegal enterprises of the kind.

He said Jahara should provide evidence of illegal seabed mining activities if she knew of any.

“Give us evidence on where such activities are happening. Don’t just talk for the sake of talking,” he said.

The four-term DAP assemblyman also said when he served as state opposition leader between 2004 to March 2008, he once brought up the issue of seabed mining at the state legislative assembly.

“Jahara was a state exco at the time. The seabed mining was happening in front of her state constituency of Teluk Air Tawar.

“The activities badly affected fishermen in Bagan Ajam, Bagan Belat and Pantai Bersih.

“But she never spoke about the issue, and she was in the government then. If she loved the sea, why didn’t she speak up on the issue at the state assembly?” the Sungai Puyu rep said.

Phee also said there was no talk about the mapping of such activities when BN was in power.

“They just denied it then,” he said. – November 13, 2017.