THE Selangor State Agricultural Development Corporation (PKPS) has denied an allegation that it did not conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study before clearing out some 970ha of peat swamp forest in Sabak Bernam, Selangor.

“The statement that PKPS did not conduct an EIA is absolutely false,” it said in a statement to The Malaysian Insight.

“PKPS has appointed a consultant in 2019 to conduct an EIA study on the land regarding the opening of new palm oil plantations following the land use categories determined by PKPS Title Deed,” it said.

PKPS was responding to a statement made by The Coalition for the Protection of Selangor’s Forests, which claimed the state agency did not do its due diligence before clearing the area and called for an immediate halt until an EIA was done.

The state agency said that the study found that all technical components and environmental impacts meet the development specifications laid out by PKPS.

“However, the state’s policy does not allow for the opening of new palm oil plantations. Therefore, PKPS has decided to shift towards food crops such as the Selangor Smart Agro Project as outlined under the National Agrofood Policy.”

The Malaysian Insight today reported the Coalition for the Protection of Selangor’s Forests as saying that it had learnt that PKPS earlier planned to develop the site for oil palm cultivation, but abandoned that proposal after confirming that national land use policies do not allow development of oil palm plantations on peat land.

However, the project has now been repackaged as “Selangor Smart Agro Park (SSAP)” and will still involve a palm oil mill but will plant coconut palms to exploit a loophole in the national policy, the coalition said.

PKPS said the proposed implementation of SSAP applies only to agricultural activities and vegetable planting, which means that the state’s policy regarding the cultivation of new palm oil is not applicable and thus, there is no reason why this initiative cannot be undertaken.

It added that the development of SSAP will also emphasise the green initiative element where optimal usage of solar energy could increase crop productivity and reduce electrical energy usage.

Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari last month officiated the launch of the Selangor Smart Agro Park project, which he claimed would increase food security for the people.

PKPS also said that based on the review and comments of the state’s town and country planning department, the land that they are working on is not categorised as a peat swamp forest reserve area.

“PKPS has been informed by the Selangor State Forestry Department (JPNS) that the state government had not gazetted the land as an additional forest reserve,” it said.

It added that the development proposal has been researched and reviewed by PKPS as well as professional bodies to ensure conservation and preservation of biodiversity in the area.

PKPS will also create a buffer zone, as well as maintain part of the site as the Central Forest Spine (CFS).

“For the record, of the total SSAP development area, 1,080 acres or 45%, will be maintained as CFS and buffer zones,” it said.

Activists want EIA revealed

Meanwhile Nagarajan Rengasamy of Global Environment Centre (GEC) said PKPS should show proof of conducting the EIA.

GEC is part of the Coalition for the Protection of Selangor’s Forests.

“If there is approval, it must be informed or shared to all parties that the SSAP project does not involve any impact on the environment based on approved EIA,” he said.

The coalition has argued that the proposed site is of global significance for peatland biodiversity, with a unique ecosystem that harbours many globally near-threatened, vulnerable and endangered species.

These include rare mammals such as panthers, sun bears and tapirs. The peat swamp forest is also a key habitat for hornbills and many other endangered bird species.

The coalition said the area has been designated as an Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) under the National Physical Plan 3 (2016-2020). The area is also specified for protection under the Selangor State Structure Plan 2035.

It said the peatland area is also critical for carbon storage, with an average peat depth of six metres, storing more than three million tons of carbon, equivalent to 12 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, worth a minimum of RM240 million.

The coalition also warned that the drainage of the site will lead to peat subsidence that will also increase the risk of flooding along the Tanjung Malim-Sabak Bernam road and in the adjacent oil palm estates of PKPS.

Amirudin, in February last year, said part of the peat swamp forest in Sabak Bernam would be gazetted so as to replace the Kuala Langat (North) Forest Reserve – another area the state wants to develop closer to Putrajaya and Cyberjaya. – April 8, 2021.