KUALA LUMPUR – The Environment and Water Ministry is reviewing its Environmental Quality Monitoring Programme (EQMP) to add value to the initiative without additional costs to the government.
Yeo Bee Yin (PH-Bakri) questioned the ministry over negotiations concerning concessions given to a company named Pakar Scieno TW for the EQMP.
In its written parliamentary reply on December 15, the ministry explained that the concession agreement with Pakar Scieno TW was scrutinised by the Attorney-General’s Chambers and Environmental Quality Task Force last year, when Yeo herself was energy, science, technology, environment and climate change minister.
The Environment and Water Ministry added that the concession agreement is in order.
This is not the first time that Pakar Scieno TW has been mentioned in the Dewan Rakyat.
On November 24, Datin Dr Tan Yee Kew (PH-Wangsa Maju) pointed out that Pakar Scieno TW was given a 15-year concession to spearhead the EQMP at a cost of RM855 million.
“I want the minister to explain to the Dewan why almost RM1 billion was allocated to Pakar Scieno for the EQMP, but still failed to give warnings on the constant river pollution that has been happening,” Tan had said.
Environment and Water Minister Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man explained that recent pollution in the river concerned odour, and a manual system is being used to manage odour pollution.
“For odour pollution, we are still using the manual system, not the monitoring system. The equipment used for the EQMP is to detect pollution caused by factors not including odour,” Tuan Ibrahim had said.
When Tan replied saying that the programme had failed, Tuan Ibrahim denied the accusation, adding that the EQMP not only monitors river pollution, but air pollution as well. – The Vibes, December 23, 2020
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