11 Dec 2009 (Kompleks Penghulu Serkat): Dialogue held between developers, Pontian District Officer, Department of Environment, Drainage and Irrigation Department, and Pekan Nenas ADUN with the Serkat communities. The village folks made their stands clear that they opposed strongly to the petrochemical project. The developer tried to persuade the villagers that they would build petroleum storage instead, with only small area allocated for petroleum refinery. Nevertheless, it was never made known on the location and acreage of the petroleum refinery.
7 Sept 2009 (Kukup Resort): Dialogue held between developers, Department of Environment and Pekan Nenas ADUN with the Kukup communities. Developers attempt to coax the Kukup communities that the development would be safe, using Jurong petrochemical in Singapore as an example. The communities did not buy in.
26 Aug 2009 (Johor State Chief Minister Office): Fishermen representatives from Mukim Tanjung Kupang (Kg. Simpang Arang, Tiram Duku, Kg. Pok, Kg. Tanjung Kupang, Kg. Ladang and Pendas Laut) had submitted a memorandum of protest against the petrochemical hub and mangrove clearing to the Chief Minister Secretary Mohd. Hafiz Ahmad. They also criticised the project investor, Vitol Terminal, for its association with war crimes (http://www.malaysiatoday.com/Latest-News/iskandar-malaysia-mmcs-affiliation-with-a-badly-reputed-oil-company-vitol-terminal-bv.htm) .
10 Aug 2009 (Prime Minister Building): Village representatives from Mukim Serkat and Mukim Air Masin (Kg. Chokoh, Kg. Sg. Durian, Pengkalan Hulu, Tanjung Piai, Kg. Perpat, Kukup Laut and Kg. Sg. Air Masin) travelled from Pontian to Putrajaya in a bus packed with 31 people, to submit their memorandum of protest to the Prime Minister Office. The memorandum was received by the Prime Minister Chief Secretary Datuk Nasir B. Sabar. The event was joined by World Challenger volunteers, Friends of Nature, Malaysian Nature Society and off course - SOS. Video clips available at (http://thestaronline.tv/default.aspx?vid=3932)
6 Aug 2009 (Chief Minister Office): Village representatives from Mukim Serkat and Mukim Air Masin (seven villagers as above) submitted the memorandum of protest to the Chief Minister secretary.
1 Aug 2009 (Kg. Perpat): Save Our Mangrove campaign held by SOS in collaboration with JARING. Kids embraced mangroves, sending out a clear message of no cutting down mangrove trees. Giant seahorse marched in support of the campaign is one of the event central focus. Video clips available at (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnmdoO-95XU).
4 July 2009 (Kukup):Kukup communities launcehd a banner protest when the Parliament member YB Wee Jeck Seng paid them a visit. It was clearly stated on their banner that petrochemical plant would pose health risks and affect the local economy.
29 June 2009 (Parliament): Parliament debate between Bakri Parliament member YB. Er Teck Hwa and the Minister of Natural Resources on the petrochemical development and mangrove clearing. http://erteckhwa.blogspot.com/2009/06/pemberitahuan-pertanyaan-dewan-rakyat_2422.html. The Deputy Minister Y.B. Tan Sri Joseph Kurup did not answer his question directly and explicitly.
29 June 2009 (Parliament): SOS and JARING representatives lobbied the issue to the Minister of Natural Resources YB Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas.
27 June 2009 (Tanjung Bin): Nine environmental NGOs in Malaysia collectively released a media statement to appeal to stop mangrove clearing work. http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Saturday/National/2593350/Article/index_html
24 June 2009: The Malaysian Nature Society openly critised deforestation for the petro hub project in Sungai Pulai (http://msn.my/article.php?aid=364)
23 June 2009 (Kukup): Johor DAP Chairman Dr. Boo Cheng Hau ADUN Skudai brought up the issue at the State Assembly meeting. (http://www.pasjohorbahru.com/index.php?p=4&no=504). However, no positive feedback was given.
17 June 2009 (Kukup): Kukup communities hand-over a memorandum signed by 811 villagers in protest of the proposed petro hub project to Johor DAP Chairman Dr. Boo Cheng Hau.
9 June 2009 (Tanjung Bin): In conjunction with the World Ocean Day, SOS-JARING-SUARAM launched marine species mascot at the mangrove clearing site to voice out protest against the destruction.
16 May 2009 (Tanjung Bin): SUARAM-JARING-JERIT-PAS held a press conference in protest of proposed mangrove clearing in Tanjung Bin. It was in conjunction with mangrove planting event officiated by the Johor Chief Minister and YB Wee Jeck Seng. Ironically, two weeks later clearing of the old growth mangrove forest began.
25 April 2008: SOS submitted a pledge to stop the petrochemical project development at Sungai Pulai the Prime Minister and Johor State Minister. The petition was signed by 5,000 people across the globe.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
We thanked the like-minded people (whose name are not mentioned here) who helped to bring out the voice of the people. These events were partially funded by Friends of Nature (http://www.foe-malaysia.org/), World Challenger volunteers (http://www.world-challenge.co.uk/), Suara Rakyat Malaysia Johor (http://www.suaram.net/) and in-kinds from dedicated individuals.
