As the developer of the RM1.2 billion Aman Laut mixed-use project in Kuala Kedah has not yet obtained the necessary approval from the Department of Environment (DoE), the government agency has ordered it to immediately stop construction on 15 May, reported Free Malaysia Today.
“This (work-stop order) is in accordance with the Section 34AA (2) of the Malaysian Quality Environmental Act 1974 (Amended) 2012 that no work can be carried out prior to getting the approval of the department,” said DoE Director-General Dr Ahmad Kamarulnajib Che Ibrahim.
“Only after it has been approved can work be carried out,” he told The Star.
In April, Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) queried why the construction of Aman Laut has commenced without the DoE’s greenlight.
A survey by the non-government organisation (NGO) revealed that an area about 1km from the seashore has already been reclaimed, impacting nearly 10 hectares of mangroves along the shoreline.
But the local authorities have already approved the construction work, said Kedah Environment Committee Chairman Dr Leong Yong Long.
He explained that Kedah’s state government is not opposed to the stop work order, as it would give Aman Laut’s developer enough time to furnish a complete Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report on the massive project.
Touted as the “Dubai of Malaysia,” the development intends to turn the existing fishing town in Kuala Kedah into a popular tourist destination and a vibrant property market, with the construction of a new township consisting of malls, luxury bungalows, condominiums and upscale eateries.
However, local fishermen fear the project would affect their livelihood, while NGOs are concerned about its harmful effects to the environment.
Among up and coming developments in Kedah are:
1. Bintang Maya @ Sungai Petani
Image sourced from FMT
Radin Ghazali, Content Writer at PropertyGuru, edited this story. To contact her about this or other stories email radin@propertyguru.com.my
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