Chapter 7: Impact Assessments

The EIA of this FMU was approved by the Controller of Natural Resources and Environment Board Sarawak on 23rd September, 2013 to follow terms and conditions of approval in accordance with the provisions of Natural Resources and Environment Ordinance 1993 and Natural Resources & Environment (Prescribed Activities) Order, 1994.

The FMU is conducting Internal Environmental Compliance Audit (IECA) and External Environmental Compliance Audit (EECA) to replace Environmental Monitoring Report (EMR) to monitor the status of General Terms and Conditions and mitigations as required in the approved EIA.

Objectives of Environmental Impact Assessment

The objectives of the EIA are to identify, assess and propose appropriate mitigation measures for potential environmental, safety and health impacts arising from the forest harvesting activities in the proposed FMU and to ensure proper management of the forest harvesting activities under RIL in order to reduce the environmental impacts.

Environmental Monitoring Report (EMR)

  • Quarterly Environmental Monitoring Report (EMR) was carried out in order to monitor the status of General Terms and Conditions and mitigations as required in the approved EIA.  EMR were done 4 times in 2015 and 2016. 
  • IECA and EECA would be replaced the current EMR and will strictly follow the Environmental Monitoring Plan (EMP) for the first 5 years.  The EMP would be updated in every 5 years.  Any negative report on the environment will be dealt with promptly and accordingly by the FMU holder.
  • The environmental baseline of water quality of the FMU is within the Compliance Limits (Class IIB) of the National water Quality Standards for Malaysia (NWQSM).

Social Impact Assessment (SIA)

According to SIA Report (January 2019), there were no longhouses staying inside /adjacent to the FMU. However, there were 2 stakeholders’ longhouses staying outside the FMU (in the Batang Baleh area) as recorded. We would carry out the monitoring and enhancement measures for local communities and all our forest workers by adopting the Community Representative Committee (CRC) and Employer – Employee Committee (EEC).  EEC are to address grievances, social problems and land right claims, if any, by following the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) adopted by the FMU.  A Social Officer is appointed to take care of local communities and our workers.

Mitigation and Enhancement Measures

The mitigation and enhancement measures (if any) are as follows:

Step 1: Assess of Impacts.  Key social impacts shall include water supply and quality, socio-cultural life and local economy.

Step 2: Mitigation/Enhancement Measures.  Key mitigation/enhancement measures shall include conduct pre-harvesting consultations with affected community; ensure that RIL/EIA measures are effectively implemented; and FMU Manager to closely cooperate with relevant agencies and stakeholder groups in conducting training programmes for community.

Step 3: Monitoring.  Social monitoring shall include compliance monitoring and impact monitoring.

Management of Socio-Economic Impact

  • As part of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) works, the company will introduce company policy to give priority for employment, training and other services related to the project to enhance the long-term social and economic well-being of the local communities (if any).
  • Efforts should be made to train the local people in the logging industry. 
  • Incentives may be provided in the form of better housing, amenities and benefits available to the workers (including staff) staying on-site.
  • An attractive wage structure will help to entice local people into the logging industry.  The minimum wage order (Amendment) 2019 of RM1,100.00 (starting in January, 2019) would implement.

Public Health and Workplace Safety

To minimize accidents or unwanted disease outbreak in the site, the following measures should be implemented:

  • Safety Meeting to be held quarterly.
  • If there is any accident happened, we shall report to JKKP.

In 2021, we were no accident record.