KUALA LUMPUR, June 1 – Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) has urged the federal government and relevant agencies to make social impact assessments (SIA), traffic impact assessments (TIA), and radiological impact assessments (RIA) publicly available and to seek feedback before granting approvals. Under the Town and Country Planning Act, 1976, and the Atomic Energy Licensing Act, 1984, such assessments are mandatory but not currently disclosed to the public.
SAM emphasized that while environmental impact assessments (EIA) under the Environmental Quality Act, 1974 require public participation for major projects, similar transparency is lacking for SIA, TIA, and RIA. Citing cases like the Light Rail Transit project in Penang and the Kampung Bohol flood retention pond controversy, SAM highlighted the need for public scrutiny to ensure decisions are made in the public interest and not solely for corporate gains. Making these assessments public, especially in cases involving radioactive waste, is vital for maintaining public trust and confidence in government decisions.
