Serious landslide recently caused by soil erosion on Valentine Bingkasan’s land.
Pan (right) stressing a point on the villagers’ objection to the proposed operation of the quarry. Also seen are Simon (left) and Elen (third right).
KOTA KINABALU: A company has failed in its latest attempt to win the support of villagers to operate a quarry on a 18.26ha site, about 600 metres above mean sea level (AMSL) at Kampung Kiukad, Ulu Kionsom, near here.
Aa a result, a scheduled inspection of sites, about 14km from Inanam Town, for siltation ponds, stone crusher, workshop, a proposed 20m buffer zone, temporary earth drain, silt fence and 50m check dam at various points of the three lots of land was abandoned yesterday
The meeting at the site which was initiated by the state Environmental Protection Department (SEPD) was attended by residents headed by the Kionsom Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) chairman Pan Su Khiong.
The project proponent Goltra Sdn Bhd was headed by its property manager Simon Wong who was accompanied by a team of consultants armed with a term of reference (TOR) on the proposed quarry operation.
The company, if given the licence, will carry out typical quarry operation, which will include among others, drilling, blasting, crushing and transportation of rocks with a production capacity of 42,000 metric tonne per month.
Also in attendance were Datuk Haji Arshad Idris, a representative for Sepanggar MP Datuk Jumat Idris, Inanam Community Development Officer (CDO) Sabin Guntaliban as well as officers from City Hall, Geosience Department and People’s Development Leader Unit (UPKR) Inanam.
SEPD officer Elen Empau who conducted the meeting disclosed that the company had submitted its TOR which would be among the criteria to be considered whether or not an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) can be approved to Goltra Sdn Bhd.
She said the gathering was also called as her department had received certain reports that there were an undisclosed number of villagers who supported the granting of a licence to the quarry to operate.
However, Pan disagreed with Elen, stating that during a similar meeting last year with the villagers which was attended by officers from the same departments, the villagers had strongly objected to the company’s operation.
“Thus the site inspection today(yesterday) is of no significance as the objection by the villagers stays,” Pan pointed out. This preliminary objection by Pan was supported by all the villagers present.
As for the said support for the quarry operations, Pan disclosed that it was discovered that those who supported the quarry had interests and benefits from the company.
Arshad also supported Pan’s contention, stating that although he was representing Jumat, he was also an affected party as he is a resident of Kampung Kionsom, have a house and lands in the village.
He added that the Sepanggar MP office supported the people’s objections to the company to be permitted to operate the quarry.
Sabin meanwhile told the meeting that the objection by the villagers was based on strong ground as they had bad experiences caused by impacts of operations there by the previous quarry operators.
There had been serious soil erosion, sedimentation in waterways that caused mud flooding downstream of Sungai Inanam. This river cuts through several villages right up to Likas Bay.
“I support that inspection to the site now is no longer necessary and I hope the government departments concerned take serious note on this matter,” Sabin said.
Mud flooding caused by previous operation had last year washed away two houses, a wooden bridge and several suspension bridges in Kampung Kionsom. It was fortunate that the flooding happened during the daytime where residents were able to evacuate to safety.
Still visible is the soil erosion of a land belonging to retired Lands and Surveys Department officer Valentine Bingkasan.
Meanwhile, another affected resident Jack Ginuhang pointed out that the TOR had inadvertently left out to list popular tourists resort of Mari Mari Village Heritage, Nuluhan Garden Villa and schools at villages along Sungai Inanam as the main affected places by soil erosion caused by the quarry.
Instead, he pointed out the company listed SK Babagon Toki and SK Poring Poring which are situated at the other side of the hill facing the Babagon Dam.
“How can the river flow up the hill and affect these schools and also the villages of Bambangan Baru, Babagon Toki and Kolosunan located further uphill? Also, Sungai Kiukad to which water from the quarry site directly flows will not pass through Kampung Kobuni,” Ginuhang said.
Several other villagers voiced their support and finally the site inspection was abandoned.