Masiung (left) during the site inspection.
KOTA KINABALU (Nov 24): The limestone hill area proposed for the clinker and cement plant in Kampung Kayawoi in Tongod does not have logging activities, said the chairman of Borneo Cement (Sabah) Sdn Bhd (BCS), Datuk Masiung Banah.
“Although there were remnants of timber in the lowland areas initially, logging activities had already occurred several years ago, well before the plant was proposed.
“The allegations that the company also engaged in logging while conducting earthworks to build access roads to the quarry site are untrue,” said Masiung during a visit to the first-phase construction work at one of the BCS quarry sites in Kampung Susui recently.
The Kuamut assemblyman explained that stretch of limestone hills in the area, licensed by the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), is sparsely vegetated with timber.
The first-phase activities include the construction of the quarry site, earthworks and building roads to locations rich in limestone deposits, he disclosed.
“We will not violate the governance stipulated by the EIA. Moreover, every inch of our work is fully monitored by the Department of Environment,” he said.
The proposed plant, with an investment of RM1.2 billion, is a joint venture between the State Government, Sri Alam Setia Sdn Bhd, which established BCS, and Sinoma Industry Bhd, China’s largest cement producer.
A total of 500 acres of clinker area have been gazetted to the Sabah Economic Development Corporation (Sedco) for the project, while 200 acres have been allocated to BCS for the quarry site, plant offices and workers’ quarters.
Also present during the visit were BCS Managing Director Micheal Kinsuan, Tongod District Officer Yuesri Ismail Yusof, and Community Development Officer Tokyo Hasim Omar.
