KUANTAN: The Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) has raised the red flag over the proposed Kuantan Laguna Resort City (KLRC) project" which will significantly change the landscape of the area over the next few years.
Pahang MNS chairperson Noor Jehan Abu Bakar said approving the project will jeopardise the people's quality of life, affect the livelihood of villagers and coastal fishermen who collect clams as a source of income and expose the nearby residential areas to potential floods.
She said the proposed project site, spanning across the beach near Tembeling Resort, Taman Gelora recreational park, the residential areas and businesses near Tanjung Api, could also result in major traffic disruption along the narrow stretches towards the popular Teluk Cempedak beach.
"During low tide, various types of shellfish, including etak and siput lonjong (a snail with a bamboo-shaped shell) can be found near the beach.
"Some locals harvest the snails and sell them while there are those who would collect them for their own consumption.
"When the coastal fishermen cannot go out to sea, they will collect the snails and shellfish to support their families.
"It also serves as an extra source of income for the fishermen," she said.
Noor Jehan said the mangrove ecosystem situated between the sea and the Taman Gelora recreational park, and the golf club in the vicinity will be jeopardised if the land reclamation project is carried out.
"Mangroves help balance the ecosystem and now we have a proposal which will wipe out the entire mangrove forests near the Taman Gelora recreational park.
"The park is a popular seaside destination surrounded by mature casuarina trees which provide shade for those who use the facilities there.
"Daily hundreds of people from various age groups turn up to run, jog and walk at the park. There are also Zumba workout sessions in the mornings and evenings.... where will they go to exercise in the future?" she asked.
Noor Jehan described the nearshore reefs (reefs found within 10km from the shore) as vital for marine biodiversity but they could soon come under severe threat due to reclamation works.
"The nearshore reefs serve as the breeding ground for fish, making it ideal for fishermen to cast their nets or set up their bubu (fish trap). "The fishing community will suffer as they will be forced to go elsewhere to catch fish," she said.
She did not rule out the possibility that the project, which involves land reclamation, will expose the area to the possibility of floods in low-lying residential areas due to the absence of natural buffer zones against the waves.
"The new area on reclaimed land will be built higher and the existing low-lying areas especially houses will be under threat. The federal government should stop the waterfront project just like how they called off the Pulau Tioman new airport project on reclamation sea area......maybe suggest another suitable site for the resort city," she said.
New Straits Times has reached out to Teruntum assemblyman Sim Chong Siang and Pahang Local Government, Housing, Environment and Green Technology Committee chairman Datuk Mohammad Fakhruddin Mohd Ariff for comments.