KPRJ denies mass fish deaths is due to land reclamation project

JOHOR BARU: The Johor government-owned Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor Bhd has denied that the mass fish deaths in the Tanjung Kupang area along the Johor Straits was caused by land reclamation work nearby.

Speaking at the KPRJ office in Danga Bay Sunday, its executive vice chairman Datuk Md Othman Yusof said that the project, which began on Jan 22, was a joint-venture partnership between KPRJ and a China-based property company to develop a mixed development area.

He said that the project had complied with all regulations set by the Department of Environment (DOE), adding that the department had conducted checks to determine proper compliance.

He also clarified that KPRJ had followed proper procedure in informing villagers and fishermen’s associations in Gelang Patah to get their consent before work on the project began.

It was reported on Friday that breeders in the area had claimed that land reclamation around the Tanjung Kupang area had been causing mass deaths of fish in farms.

At least 10 fish farms and 250 traditional fishermen were reported to have been affected.

Earlier today, Johor Mentri Besar political secretary Mohd Khairi Malik had said that the government was currently investigating the root causes of the fish deaths and would wait for the investigation report before deciding on the next course of action.