Proposed Malacca deep-sea port overlaps archaeological site

The proposed site for the Malacca Far East deep-sea port overlaps with a protected underwater heritage zone, and its construction could harm the archaeological site.

However, the developer, Far East Melaka, had only incorporated excerpts from the heritage impact assessment (HIA) report in its environmental impact assessment (EIA) report.

The absence of the full report would hinder the public from evaluating the potential heritage losses.

According to the EIA report, submitted on Dec 26, 2022, the Pulau Upeh Waters Gazettement Zone, covering about 36,659.6ha, lies off the coast of Malacca.

The area was declared a protected zone, effective May 12, 2022, under sub-section 64(1) of the National Heritage Act 2005.

The law states "the (federal) minister may, on the advice of the (national heritage) commissioner, declare in the notice published in the gazette any area within which an underwater cultural heritage is situated to be a protected zone".

Whereas sub-sections 64(2) and 64(3) state...