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#manifestorakyat2021

EIA should be replaced by an Environment and Human Right Impact Assessment system

By:

Ng Yap Hwa

Affiliations:

Teoh Beng Hock Trust for Democracy

Policy Code:

3j Environment

Problem Statement:

Scrutiny of the principles of conducting EIA in Malaysia shows it is outdated and has failed to adopt current international best practices.

There are many development projects approved by the government that forcefully evicts indigenous people, urban settlers, farmers and fishermen.

The EIA guidelines stipulate that the EIA study should solicit inputs from all stakeholders, the project proponent and decision makers are to be held accountable legally by stakeholders, and the presence of a participatory process that will allow the affected public to express their concern. The proposed baseline study includes the aspects of geography, environment, biological, socio-economic activities, archaeological and historical resources.

These criteria demonstrate that the primary focus of the guidelines is more about the impact of the project on the environment rather than the protection of human rights of affected individuals and communities. The guideline is silent on the huge impact of a development project on the individuals and communities, such as their right to adequate standard of housing, water, food and health should they be displaced from their lands.

The ineffectiveness of Malaysia's EIA is evident when affected individuals and communities cry foul over the lack of consultation and respect of their rights in numerous huge development projects. The people are always the last ones who know the proposed development project through the media.

Value(s) and Belief(s):

To address this problem, the EIA must be holistically reformed, and a human rights impact assessment system (HRIA) included. Everyone has his / her right to housing which is in relation to his / her right to food, work and cultures. Public, private and government-linked corporations must adhere to human rights standards and employ human rights impact assessment prior to approving any development projects of all scales, especially those on the mega spectrum.

Proposal of Solution:

As the first step, the government should revamp section 34A of the EQA to make HRIA enforceable. The Minister's power to "prescribe any activity" that requires EIA study should be restricted. A transparent and clear criterion for EIA study must be re-formulated with the assistance of environmental experts and experienced foreign policy makers.

More specifically, we propose to amend section 34A of the Environment Quality Act 1974

Section 34A(2)Any person intending to carry out any of the prescribed activities shall, before any approval for the carrying out of such activity is granted by the relevant approving authority, submit a report to the Director General. The report shall be in accordance with the guidelines prescribed by the Director General and shall contain an assessment of the impact such activity will have or is likely to have on the environment and human rights and the proposed measures that shall be undertaken to prevent, reduce or control the adverse impact on the environment and human rights.

The words ‘and human rights’ should also be added to sections 34A(3), 34A(4) and 34A(7).

In addition, we propose to amend section 34A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1976

21A(1A)The State Authority may specify that the development proposal report submitted under subsection (1) in respect of certain categories of development shall include an analysis of the social and human rights implications of the development for the area which is the subject of the application for planning permission.

The principle of HRIA should be implemented at projects at federal, state and municipal levels.

In short, the government must move our environmental policy from a charity-based to rights-based approach. Putting people before profit.

Additional Information:

https://www.humanrights.dk/tools/human-rights-impact-assessment-guidance-toolbox/introduction-human-rights-impact-assessment

10 key criteria for HRIA
• Meaningful participation
• Non-discrimination
• Empowerment
• Transparency
• Accountability
• Use of human rights standards
• Analysis of actual and potential impacts (caused, contributed to and directly linked to)
• Assessment of severity of human rights impacts
• Inclusion of impact mitigation measures
Focus on access to remedy

Translation

Isu dan Polisi Semasa:

Nilai-nilai dan Kepercayaan:

Penyelesaian:

Informasi Tambahan:

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First Name
Last Name
Organisation
Submission Date
73
YI HUI
LIM
Agora Society Malaysia
07/08/2023
72
iudabiuf
idiubiuafn
kjdbawnk
03/07/2023
71
AMDAN @SABAN
TUMPONG
P.184 LIBARAN
11/11/2022
70
Muhammad Danial
Abdul Majeed
Parti MUDA Pulau Pinang
10/11/2022
69
maimuna
merican
individual
04/11/2022
68
Joshua
P
Keep Green Movement
04/11/2022
67
Kennedy
Michael
Individual
27/10/2022
66
MOHD YAZID
ABDULLAH
INDIVIDU
26/10/2022
63
Pauline
Yong
Individual
20/10/2022
63
Pauline
Yong
Individual
20/10/2022
63
Pauline
Yong
Individual
20/10/2022
62
Nancy
yee
Individual
11/10/2022
61
Nazif
Nani
Individual
11/10/2022
60
Cherlanne
Patrick
Individual
27/09/2022
59
Anusha
Arumugam
Individual
11/09/2022
58
kavein
thran
individual
18/08/2022
57
AZMAN
MOHD RADZI
INDIVIDUAL
19/07/2022
56
ANDREW
PANG
Always for People
18/07/2022
55
Iskandar
Putra
P104 Subang
13/07/2022
54
TK
KOH
SABM
13/07/2022
53
Law
Wogt Min
Individual
09/07/2022
52
SV
Singam
Individual
08/07/2022
51
Alex
Abraham
Individual
07/07/2022
50
Farida
Ibrahim
Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysai
07/07/2022
49
Chithra
Adiyodi
Individual
06/07/2022
48
Kean Seng
Goh
LLG CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT CENTRE
28/06/2022
47
Crietel Eviany
Philip
NA
26/06/2022
46
Subatra
Jayaraj
Individual
25/06/2022
45
Johleen
Koh
Individual
24/06/2022
44
Anwar
Fazal
Individual
22/06/2022
43
mah hui
lim
Individual
22/06/2022
42
ISMAIL
LUMUT
ICON
20/06/2022
41
Wathshlah
Naidu
Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ)
20/06/2022
40
Dom
Wong
Say No To PJD Link
15/06/2022
39
Suguna
Papachan
Individual
14/06/2022
38
Danesh
Prakash Chacko
TINDAK MALAYSIA
14/06/2022
37
Harmit
Singh
Gerakan Belia Sepunjabi Malaysia
07/06/2022
36
Dennis
Francis
Individual
28/05/2022
35
Leon
Rethual
Individual
28/05/2022
34
Rhea
Martin
Individual
27/05/2022
33
Janette
Matujal
Individual
27/05/2022
32
Faizal
Masri
Individual
27/05/2022
31
Bill
Jugah
Sadia-Rajang/Independent Council Of Natives
27/05/2022
30
Chee Han
Lim
Manifesto Rakyat
27/05/2022
29
Zahid
Alom
Penang Stop Human Trafficking Campaign
27/05/2022
28
Alwi
Muda
Parti Amanah Negara
27/05/2022
27
Xiao Hui
Sem
Individual
27/05/2022
26
Beverly
Joeman
CSO Platform for Reform
27/05/2022
25
Jayanath
Appudurai
Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia {SABM}
27/05/2022
24
Chee Keong
Chow
Individual
27/05/2022
23
Alice
Tan
Health Equity Initiatives
27/05/2022
22
Calvin Ohsey
Ak Ah Sen
individual
27/05/2022
21
you ping
goh
cdcas
27/05/2022
20
William
Liam
Terabai Kenyalang Heritage Association of Sarawak
27/05/2022
19
Nurizzati
Hamdan
Individual
27/05/2022
18
Sivashankar
Krishnapillai
Individual
27/05/2022
17
Seok Ping
Yu
Individual
27/05/2022
16
Sujatra
Jayaraj
Individual
27/05/2022
15
Remy
Majangkim
BAKAS MC
27/05/2022
14
David
Individual
27/05/2022
13
IRENE
XAVIER
Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor
27/05/2022
12
Haris
Ibrahim
I am the 3rd Force
27/05/2022
11
Michelle R
Usman
Sabah Human Rights Centre
27/05/2022
10
Chan
Yin Hoong
Individual
27/05/2022
9
PH
Wong
Childline Foundation
27/05/2022
8
Sylvester
Gerunsen Jon
Kelab Dayak Pila Sibu (KDPS)
27/05/2022
7
Stanley
Yong
Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia
27/05/2022
6
Jimmy
Berukang
Individual
27/05/2022
5
Yock Lin
Ho
Monsoon Malaysia
27/05/2022
4
ronald
quay
individual
27/05/2022
3
Shanti
Somasundram
Individual
27/05/2022
2
Chia
Yong Tai
Monsoons Malaysia
27/05/2022
1
Mohammad Yunus
Salehi
HEI
27/05/2022

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