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The Recognition of the Importance of EIAs as a Decision Tool in the Justification of all Projects
The Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) welcomes the Selangor State executive councilor Ch'ng Toh Eng statement's final decision to build the upper Sungai Selangor Dam would be based on the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) outcome. This shows that the Dtate Government recog-nises the importance of the EIA process in coming up with an important decision that affects everyone, especially the Kuala Kubu Bahru's residents. The move is timely in order to protect the fragile and sensitive ecosystems from uncontrolled development in the highlands and the major river systems, as well as to come up with the best alternative to supply water to Selangor. The deci-sion to build or not to build should not rest only on the financial aspects or the immediate solution to the problem, but on other aspects, long term as well as short term.

The EIA as a planning tool, provides a qualitative as well as the quantitative analysis of an unquantifiable aspects on the environment, plants and animals, the Orang Asli and the local population, other socio-economics aspects, the neighbouring states, or the impact of salt water intrusion and the possible death of mangrove trees down river, which will affect the fireflies and the tourist industry, all of which are difficult to quantify. These will form the inputs to the decisions that will be taken. The move to form a committee by the locals listened to by the Government is a big step towards local community inputs for big projects.

The EIA study will also identify the alternatives or reducing the negative impact on the project while preserving or even enhancing the positive aspects of the project. Notwithstanding the EIA requirements, the EIA process, to be effective, must be viewed as a planning tool and not as a formality pending approval for projects, otherwise, only EIA consultants will benefit.

Since the introduction of the EIA process, there is more transparency in the reviewing process, and the public must make full use of their rights in the participation of the review.

Dato' Dr Salleh Mohd. Nor
President, Malaysian Nature Society (Letter to the Editor Sun 4 February 1999, Kuala Lumpur)

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Created on 12th March 1999.