Malaysiakini Team
Published: May 12, 2026 9:30 AM
Updated: 4:18 PM
Environment
Former natural resources and environmental sustainability minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad has called for Malaysia’s ban on river sand exports to be maintained, warning that excessive extraction could cause long-term environmental damage.
Nik Nazmi said rivers should not be viewed merely as economic assets, describing them instead as vital ecosystems that regulate floods, protect water resources, support biodiversity, and sustain local communities.
He cautioned that sand extraction beyond sustainable limits could result in irreversible consequences, stressing the need for careful environmental management.
While acknowledging the need for inland works and river management projects in certain areas, Nik Nazmi noted that Pahang had received more than RM500 million for flood mitigation works since 2023.
He also stressed that environmental governance must prioritise sustainability, enforcement, and ecosystem protection over short-term economic gains, adding that Malaysia should learn from past experiences of uncontrolled resource exploitation rather than repeat them.
READ MORE:
No comments:
Post a Comment