In the Shadow of Pengerang

12 September 2012 | Green-World | Posted by Hee JW

On the southeastern tip of Johor, there is a small town with big story: Pengerang.

On May 13, 2012 the Johor government officially flagged off a Refinery And Petrochemical Integrated Development

(RAPID) project in Pengerang – a project that involves an investment of MYR60 Billion and a capacity to refine

300,000 barrels of imported crude oil. One of the investors of the RAPID project, KuoKuang Petrochemical company

had finally ended their long running saga at Taiwan, signing an agreement with Malaysia’s Johor state government to

invest in the RAPID project.

RAPID project is estimated to acquire 22,500 acres of land affecting 4 Chinese Cemeteries, 7 Villages, 11 Chinese

Temples and 2 Schools are told to be relocated. Affected people would be relocated in stages, with the first batch set

to move in March next year consisting of 3 villages: Sg. Kapal, Teluk Empang and Langkah Baik. The quantum of

compensation has still not yet been announced until today.

Citing an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study, conducted by Taiwan Chung Hsing University’s

environmental engineering department, Prof. Tsuang Ben Jei in 2010, showed that the average life span of people

islandwide will decrease by 23 days if the KuoKuang Petrochemical Project was to be launched in Taiwan: Full story

here.

The RAPID Project is much more bigger. The only reasonable inference is that this means the damage will be serious.

But Pengerang’s villagers are being relocated to a new location merely within a 5km radius away.

. .

At the tip of Sg. Rengit. Rainy day on a wooden pier at Pengerang. Some piers at Pengerang.

Almost every historical city has a geographical symbol that conjures up the trauma of its people. For Pengerang, it is

a silver lobster monument placed at Sg. Rengit, right in the heart of Pengerang. From afar, the town by the seaside is

remarkable graceful, the sky painted in blue and sea cover in shades of green.

Pengerang’s main source of income is reaped from agriculture and fishery, and some run local businesses mainly in

the tourism industry and restaurants. Fishermen here need not venture far into the vast ocean foraging for seafood,

especially because spiny lobsters congregate in the shallows to spawn. Farmers invested their entire life into

plantations, and now, the fruits are finally repaying their commitment. But all were told to relocate, not only

affecting their lifestyle but their source of income too!

Such rich land, suffers from catastrophe.

.

Fisherman foraging fish and lobsters at bay.Villagers passing time at local “community club”. Enjoying its sea breeze.

. .

Blue wooden house by sea side.

I drove out 350km to Pengerang, to interview some of the locals; to get a taste of local hardships as the residents

face losing their roots, their identity and their culture. Nothing ever becomes real till it is experienced. Some almost

cry, reliving the horrors of reality.

. .. . .

Fume of sighs. His house by the sea..Land Reclamation at Sungai Kapal.

.. . .

The land reclamation and the nature.,Abandoned Ship Workshop.The Temple of the Sea. Fish market.

“We preferred fishing, to a life of idleness on the village, where we were driven against our will. We preferred our

own way of living, all we wanted was peace and to be left alone.” “The authorities come and brought papers. i

could not read them, i don’t know how to read. They did not tell me truly what was in it. When i went to a local

meeting, The Great Man explained to me, that the interpreters had deceived me, into signing papers i’m not know of.

All I want is right and justice for the compensation of my 40 Durian Trees, 40 Oil Palm Trees.”Pondering upon the land

reclamation, looking for a great freedom, an intense and absorbing love for the sea. Reminiscence his days frolicking

in the sea. . . .

His prize.Young lad and the sea.

The lost land of a 22,500 acres, resulted 3,000 graves

buried deep in peace beneath the meadows to be dig out and relocate.

Some cemeteries are over a century old, as date engraved on its

gravestones.

.

Archaeologists examining the gravestones..One of the gravestones of the Qing Dynasty.

.

At the cemetery.Sea view cemetery.People called her, the “Lobster Princess”.

. .

Faith in Supreme Power.An old man who runs the cemetery- pro bono!Spiritual ways- Praying and offering to the

Gods.

The principle of fishing technique here had been passed on from generation to generation, and this generation might

not be able to pass on their heritage anymore. The land reclamation had directly affected the water quality, coastal

fishing ground, spiny lobster breeding ground, the impacts and threats to the environment.

Here i’d also visited a fisherman’s family, as we speak, there was rumble out of the sky, as thunderclouds massed.

The breeze of the sea, the smell of the rain, peace never tasted so sweet!

.

the 3rd generation fisher-woman.Worker mending the fishing net.Filtering on its commercial value.

. . .

Catch of the day. Worker drying fishing net. Handmade fishing net.

.

Thunderstorms massed over the land reclamated.They used to pull in dozens of Spiny Lobsters on each trip, after the

land reclamation, they caught merely 3 to 5 lobsters a day. And today, they only got one.

Perhaps you have noticed that even the very lightest breeze you can hear the voice of crying sea. This is its prayer to

the Gods, who govern the sea, and the well being. The fight for ultimate freedom, the pressure from several

governing parties, for now they would pray to the Gods, all things and all be ings pray to the Gods continually in

differing ways- the spiritual remedy.Recom- See more at: http://www.loyarburok.com/2012/09/12/shadow-

pengerang/#sthash.HcBt9OFQ.dpuf

I visit Telok Ramunia Present Day Oct 2012

.

New Housing for kampong Nelayan near Pengerang RAPID project

.

PROPOSE MAJOR ROADWORK

Proposed major road networks

Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL)

Johor Bahru Coastal Road

Johor Bahru Middle Ring Road

PETRONAS RAPID (Source from: Petronas)

A crude oil

refinery with processing capacity of

300,000 barrels per day.

Malaysia’s daily refining capacity will grow from

635,300 barrels now to 935,300

barrels.

A naphtha cracker

with annual production

capacity of 3 million tonnes of ethylene,

propylene, C4 and C5

olefins.

A petrochemical

and polymer complex for

highlyspecialised products namely propylene and

ethylene oxide derivatives.

These three key facilities cost

US$20 bil and the project to be

May potentially include a LNG receiving and re-gasification terminal.

commissioned by

end of year 2016.

Will include related infrastructure

such as pipeline, tankage and other

logistics and warehousing facilities.

.Benefits to Investors

Pengerang Petroleum Maritime Industrial Park 1,760 acres ( 712 hectares)

Located in the east of Southern Johor

Phase 1 : Integrated maritime industries and oil & gas related services as a strategic "Maritime Trade

Hub" in Asia.

Expected overall completion - 10 years.

Features Pengerang Petroleum & Maritime Industrial Park

Size :1,760 acres ( 712 hectares) Concept :Peninsular reclamation

Location :A naturally sheltered harbour with ample anchorage area.

Strategic locations connect with the Strait of Melaka, one of the busiest shipping routes in the world.

Close proximity to Jurong Island Petroleum & Petrochemical Hub, Singapore especially Tanjung Piai Integrated Petroleum & Petrochemical Hub .

Strategic locations connect with the Strait of Melaka, one of the busiest shipping routes in the world.

Close proximity with PETRONAS RAPID

(Refinery and Petrochemicals Integrated Development). Natural :15 m - 18 m

Water Depth :Natural water depth suitable for VLCC berth and large vessels.

Accessibility :Close to Major Ports in South East Asia such as Port of Tanjung Pelepas, Johor Port, Tanjung Langsat Port, Jurong Port

and Keppel Port.

Within the masterplan of Pengerang Integrated Petroleum

Complex (PIPC)

Easy accessibility with existing highways and international airports.

New proposed expressway connectivity.

Potential

Benefits :Minimal capital/maintenance dredging cost. (Low cost on VLCC jetty/ berth construction with jetty length less than 500m)

Leveraging on PETRONAS RAPID (Refinery and Petrochemicals Integrated Development) to turn Southern Johor into a refining and petrochemical centre,

complementing existing petrochemical complexes in Malaysia's eastern corridors and in Singapore.

Approximately 3 km of seafront land along the coastline.

* Tax incentives provided by Malaysian Government for investments in the approved industries.

* Main tax incentives for eligible companies in Malaysia are : Pioneer Status - Income tax exemption of 70% or 100% on the statutory income for five years OR Investment

Tax Allowances - Investment tax allowance of 60% or 100% on the qualifying capital expenditure for five years.

* The Global Incentives for Trading (GIFT) scheme for the eligible traders allows a

flat corporate tax rate of 3% of chargeable income and 100% exemption on director fees paid to non-Malaysian directors.

Long-term leasehold for 99 years land tenure.

At the doorstep of Johor dynamic and fast growing economic area with exciting future prospects.

Target

Completion :Expected overall completion - 10 years

Inherent Natural Strengths

A naturally sheltered area to ensure safe haven for ships during the North East Monsoon Season.

Geographically-protected from natural disasters.

Subsea conducive for land reclamation works.

Strategic locations connect with Straits of Melaka, one of the busiest shipping

routes in the world and close proximity to Jurong Island Singapore.

Navigational Realities

The water depth is ideal for ships to call eg VLCCs.

Minimum dredging is required to create approaching channel.

Complement Structure Plan

New proposed expressway connectivity.

Easy accessibility with existing highways and international airports.

Within the radar and Flagship zones of Iskandar Malaysia.

Tax Incentives / Allowances

Tax incentives provided by Malaysian Government for approved industrial services.

Main tax incentives for shipbuilding & repairs and fabrications are:

Pioneer Status and Investment Tax Allowances .

The Global Incentives for Trading (GIFT) scheme allows a flat corporate tax rate of 3% of chargeable income and 100% exemption on director fees paid to non-Malaysian directors.

..Why Invest In Pengerang Maritime Industrial Park ?

Connected with one of the busiest international shipping route

Within the masterplan of Pengerang Integrated Petroleum Complex (PIPC)

Strong demand for container port (earmarked to complement RAPID) and maritime industries.

Malaysia is banking on Petronas RAPID (Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development) to turn Southern Johor into a refining and petrochemical centre, complementing existing petrochemical complexes in Malaysian's

eastern corridors and in Singapore.

Quick Facts - Petronas RAPID Project Scope Includes:

A crude oil refinery with processing capacity of 300,000 barrels per day. Malaysia's daily refiing capacity

will grow from 635,300 barrels now to 935,300 barrels.

A naphtha cracker with annaul production capacity of 3 milion toones of ethylene, propylere, C4 and C5 olefins.

A Petrochemical and polymer complex for highly-specialised products namely propylene and ethylene

oxide derivatives.

Complementing the oil & gas, petrochemical and industrial activities within the

nation as well as the region.

These three key facilities cost US$20 bil and the project to be commissioned by end of year 2016.

We include related infrastructure such as pipeline, tankage and other logistics and warehousing facilities.

May potentially include a LNG receiving and re-gasification terminal.

Accessibilities

Located about 120km from Johor Bahru

Newly launched Senai - Desaru Expressway (shortens travelling time by ½ hours)

Pengerang Highway

116km from Senai International Airport

147km to Changi International Airport

407km from KLIA

LAYOUT and legend

Logistic Terminal

200.00 ha

Port

95.00 ha

Midstream

250.00 ha

Warehousing Logistics

80.00 ha

Utilities Clusters

20.00 ha

Road Reserve

36.00 ha

Pipeline Corridor

31.00 ha

Land Info

Land Concept : Peninsular reclamation

Total Land Area : 1,760 acres 712.00 ha

Natural Water Depth : 15 m - 18 m

Total Leasable Land : 650.00 ha North Diamond Venture Sdn Bhd

Refinery And Petrochemical Integrated Development (RAPID) project in Pengerang

Business inquiry pls contact North Diamond Venture Sdn Bhd

Email address : lorevita.asia_group@yahoo.com

Kindly stated your business interest ,name of company (company profile) ,your business proposal ,we will

respond your proposal as soon as possible

Thank you.

North Diamond Venture Sdn Bhd