Hundreds of Tioman’s marine species at risk from airport project: report

PETALING JAYA – The development of the New Tioman International Airport (NTIA) project, which was approved after an impasse for years, may affect hundreds of marine life species as the runway is to be built over the sea on reclaimed land.

An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report, now on public display on the Environment Department’s (DoE) website has identified 120 species of hard coral and 12  soft coral species on Tioman island, where two are critically endangered, one endangered, and 19 are vulnerable.

Also recorded were 125 species of fish from 24 families, with 1,371 individual species documented. However, none are endangered species.

Concerns about marine life’s well-being come from the physical damage to their habitat during the project’s reclamation and quarrying phases.

NTIA is set to cover 186.36ha of a gazetted marine park area, where 76% of the area will be reclaimed from the ocean. The airport site also includes low hills and coastal areas between Kg Paya and Kg Genting.

The entire project is planned for completion in seven years, from next year to 2030. It aims to accommodate larger planes which the current airport runway inland cannot cater to. The EIA states that the NTIA will receive flights from Asean countries, eastern India, south to mid-China, and west Australia.

The public can comment on the EIA report and express concerns on the DoE’s website until July 20.

Oil spills, artificial lighting among potential marine ecological disruptors

The EIA cautions on water turbidity and the flocculation and unsettlement of sediments in the ocean. The floating particles would prevent corals from absorbing nutrients and oxygen.

The marine life may also suffer behavioural changes, following sound pollution and tremors during the project’s construction phase, the EIA said.

The document was prepared by Asia Pacific Environmental Consultants Sdn Bhd for project proponent Tioman Infra Sdn Bhd.

Possible oil spills from construction machinery will also contribute to water pollution, permeating the ocean with toxins and reducing oxygen.

The report also said that artificial lighting from the airport may disrupt corals’ photosynthetic activities, while its development will jeopardise biodiversity and habitat restoration.

The marine ecosystem deterioration, especially near the beaches of Kg Paya to Kg Genting, could reduce the number of tourists at these villages during the construction phase, the EIA warned. 

On the other side, the local service and tourism sector will see a possible increase in business opportunities after the airport commences its operations. 

Nearby settlements can also expect to receive better utilities, infrastructure, and facilities after the construction is complete.

Mitigation measures

The report proposed several measures to mitigate the airport development’s possible issues, including relocating corals in the area under restoration and conservation plans.

To overcome unsettled sediments, the project is urged to work in phases, implement erosion and sediment controls, and set buffer areas.

Sound controls and water stream management are to be used during the construction phase, while the airport is advised to use low-intensity lighting. 

The developers are also urged to monitor the coast and implement a marine conservation and restoration plan throughout the project.

For socioeconomic mitigation steps, it is recommended that incentives be given to local entrepreneurs and hoteliers in the form of tourist tax reductions for at least five years.

No suitable land?

NTIA is said to act as a catalyst for improved post-pandemic local tourism and accessibility to Tioman Island, and will be a privately funded project.

It was first approved in principle by the Pahang state government on December 28, 2017, and was subsequently approved by the state’s planning committee on September 17, 2019.

The state’s executive council then approved the project on January 28, 2020, followed by approval in principle by the National Physical Planning Council the same year.

However, media interviews with some Tioman locals showed that the project was not favourably received by some villagers on the island because of its environmental risks.

The EIA report, however, states that 54% of households and 42% of business operators surveyed agreed with the new airport project.

Plans for a new or upgraded airport on Tioman island have been proposed since 2003 but never took off due to environmental concerns.

In 2018, then Malaysia Airport Holdings Bhd managing director Datuk Mohd Badlisham Ghazali said there was no suitable land on the island for a larger airport, and stated his disagreement with reclamation as it would damage the environment.

The project proponent Tioman Infra Sdn Bhd, is affiliated to the Berjaya Group, which runs the Berjaya Tioman Resort on the island through part ownership of one of the group’s subsidiaries. – The Vibes, June 28, 2023