It is reported that mining giant Vale International has failed to impress its critics with assurances that its proposed iron ore plant in Manjung will be safe to the environment and will benefit local residents.

A FMT survey found that activists and locals are still overwhelmingly against the project, although it has the eager support of the state government. In a recent public relations exercise, Vale made a lengthy statement about the mega project’s friendliness to the environment and gave a glowing projection about the economic benefits it would bring to Perak as well as the local community.

However, critics remain unconvinced. Their attitude is summed up by a skeptic's statement that the plant, which will occupy a 450 acre site at Teluk Rubiah, would help feed only human greed. The locals, most of whom are fishermen, remain worried about the plant’s effect on their livelihood and, worse, their health.

Consumer and environmental groups have consistently voiced opposition against the project. They say that the physical facilities as well as the operations of the plant would destabilize the ecosystem of the area, formerly gazetted as a forest reserve. Concerns have also been raised that the local tourism industry would take a blow from which it might not recover.

Mr Meor Razak Meor Abdul Rahman secretary of the Perak Environmental Association said that the state government committed a crime when it went against all the laws of the land to convert the affected land from tourism use to industrial use.

He said this went directly against the vision and objectives of the Manjung District Local Plan covering the period from 2002 to 2015. The state government did not hide its eagerness to go ahead with the project, bulldozing its decision against strong objections from residents during a public hearing just four days prior to the re-zoning in February 2010.

He added that "The folk here worked hard to develop a beachside tourism industry and suddenly you change it. What's going to happen to Teluk Batik and the traders there? Until today, the state government has not dared to answer us. Why did they do this re zoning? If there's no profit, then we don't need to follow laws? We might as well be lawless."

Vale, when asked regarding these issues, said it was unaware of them, adding that it was in no position to comment on government policies. The area is rich in varieties of flora and fauna and Mr Meor Razak said the project would endanger the jungle and its inhabitants. He added that "The Perak Department of Wildlife and National Parks also assessed that the project area is rich in various fauna and flora, with many protected under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972."

(Sourced from www.freemalaysiatoday.com)