Limits of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in Malaysia: Dam Politics, Rent-Seeking, and Conflict
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Dear Authors,
The discussion seems a bit quick. It is this bridge and only this point that makes me say that this article deserves to be published but that the authors must be asked to densify it a little in terms of explanations and especially of the scope that it could have for similar areas of study.
Author Response
We kindly thank the reviewer for this very helpful comment. We have densified the discussion in terms of explanations and the scope that this study may have for comparable areas of study according to the reviewer’s suggestion.
Reviewer 2 Report
Letter to Authors
sustainability-1010592
Limits of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in Malaysia: Dam politics, rent-seeking and conflict
Peter HO, Nor-Hisham Md Saman, Heng Zhao
201122
Dear authors,
This potentially interesting and important MS is worth publishing in the journal you are submitting to. I think you need some revision to make things clearer. Moderate English editing is necessary. See below for detail.
L16
What are "these"?
L18
or BHP -> BHP
L27 keywords
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) -> replace
Do not list words which appear also in the title. Duplicate hits upon computer search do not make sense. Give words that do not appear in the title to draw attention from wider readership. Posting words that neither appear in the abstract is better, because even in full-text search/indexing robots may not weigh much on words deeper (posterior) in the text. Hint: semi-structured interview, participatory observation, monetary compensation, Orang Ulu, biodiversity hotspot, Borneo, etc.
L28
peoples -> people
L54
that what -> what
L68
(Memon, 2000) -> Memon (2000)
L69
has study -> his study ?
L101
The map picture is difficult for readers to see the framework of your study. Provinces in colors outside the Sarawak disturb readers' focuses on the dam. Letters in the map are too small. Important locales mentioned in L257 are absent from the map. To enforce readers' geographic images, this map should present entire Borneo Island with a small inset of Southeast Asia from Thailand and Philippine to Indonesia pointing the Borneo. Using a jpeg picture or jpeg compression upon printing also damages visibility. Jpeg deceives human eyes with unwanted blobs on white background just like the current delivery.
L104
For one (verbose) -> delete
L139
NGOs -> NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations)
Spell-out at the first appearance and use an acronym onward consistently.
L243
Utusan Konsumer, 1994b -> Utusan Konsumer, 1994
1994a is absent from the reference list, and it should not accompany an alphabetical suffix, but I think the journal style of citation is bracketed numbers in an order of appearance in the text and numbered items in the order. See L646.
L254
Utusan Konsumer, 1995d -> Utusan Konsumer, 1995c
1995c is currently absent and suffix should shift to fill this vacancy. See also L651.
L257
Where are Long Bulan, Uma Daro and Bato Kalo? See Fig.1.
L266
DOE -> {DOE (Department of Environment), Department of Environment (DOE)}
Spell-out at the first appearance and use an acronym onward consistently.
L266,268
DOE (2009) is absent from the reference list.
L274
Where is Kuching? See Fig.1.
L286
Department of Environment (DOE) -> DOE
See L266.
L288
displayed; -> displayed:
A semicolon means &, whereas a colon does e.s.
L290
It is against the background above that we conducted -> Under the background above, we conducted
L298
Where is Sungai Asap?
L307,308,369,370,371,384,385,387,393,394,397,398,400,401,402,403,404,434
percent -> %
L319
otherwise -> else ?
L320
You need explanation of "a household-to-household approach".
household-by-household ?
L329
Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) -> NGOs
See L139.
L332-336
Move to M&M section with some revision to fit in.
L348
Add figure ID (Figure 3).
L349,375
Delete (verbose)
L350-355
Delete (redundant)
L366
Where is Marudi?
L380
Many do it (not a complete sentence) -> It is done largely ?
Or otherwise, if this phrase is exactly what the respondent said, it could be "Many do it (sic)".
L382
Where is Miri Sarawak?
L394
another -> delete
L416
Where is Ulu Balui?
L418
Where is Uma Nyaving?
L419
Conclusion -> Discussion
L420
Bakun Hydro-electric Project or (redundant) -> delete
See L59
L421
In so doing (verbose) -> delete
L478
Having said this (verbose) -> delete
L528 references
Check the reference list carefully again from the beginning. Reference lists are frequently den of errors. Follow the journal style. I think the journal style of citation is bracketed numbers in an order of appearance in the text and numbered items in the order. It is the authors' responsibility that all references are properly cited.
L560
Special Reference -> special reference
L561
XXXIX -> 39
L646
Utusan Konsumer. (1994b) -> Utusan Konsumer. (1994)
L651
Utusan Konsumer. (1995d) -> Utusan Konsumer. (1995c)
Author Response
We greatly thank the reviewer for the very helpful, detailed and constructive comments. Please find below a point-by-point overview of our responses.
Dear authors,
This potentially interesting and important MS is worth publishing in the journal you are submitting to. I think you need some revision to make things clearer. Moderate English editing is necessary. See below for detail.
L16
What are "these"?
Refers to mega-projects, has been revised in the abstract
L18
or BHP -> BHP
Revised as suggested by the reviewer
L27 keywords
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) -> replace
Do not list words which appear also in the title. Duplicate hits upon computer search do not make sense. Give words that do not appear in the title to draw attention from wider readership. Posting words that neither appear in the abstract is better, because even in full-text search/indexing robots may not weigh much on words deeper (posterior) in the text. Hint: semi-structured interview, participatory observation, monetary compensation, Orang Ulu, biodiversity hotspot, Borneo, etc.
A very helpful suggestion, thank you. We have revised the keywords accordingly.
L28
peoples -> people
Revised as suggested by the reviewer
L54
that what -> what
Revised as suggested by the reviewer
L68
(Memon, 2000) -> Memon (2000)
Revised as suggested by the reviewer
L69
has study -> his study ?
Revised as suggested by the reviewer
L101
The map picture is difficult for readers to see the framework of your study. Provinces in colors outside the Sarawak disturb readers' focuses on the dam. Letters in the map are too small. Important locales mentioned in L257 are absent from the map. To enforce readers' geographic images, this map should present entire Borneo Island with a small inset of Southeast Asia from Thailand and Philippine to Indonesia pointing the Borneo. Using a jpeg picture or jpeg compression upon printing also damages visibility. Jpeg deceives human eyes with unwanted blobs on white background just like the current delivery.
Thank you for this comment, we have revised the map picture accordingly.
L104
For one (verbose) -> delete
Revised as suggested by the reviewer
L139
NGOs -> NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations)
Spell-out at the first appearance and use an acronym onward consistently.
Revised as suggested by the reviewer
L243
Utusan Konsumer, 1994b -> Utusan Konsumer, 1994
1994a is absent from the reference list, and it should not accompany an alphabetical suffix, but I think the journal style of citation is bracketed numbers in an order of appearance in the text and numbered items in the order. See L646.
Revised as suggested by the reviewer, and the journal style of citation is now followed consistently throughout the paper.
L254
Utusan Konsumer, 1995d -> Utusan Konsumer, 1995c
1995c is currently absent and suffix should shift to fill this vacancy. See also L651.
Revised as suggested by the reviewer
L257
Where are Long Bulan, Uma Daro and Bato Kalo? See Fig.1.
These longhouse communities have now all been inundated by the dam reservoir. Brief explanation added in the text.
Revised as suggested by the reviewer
L266
DOE -> {DOE (Department of Environment), Department of Environment (DOE)}
Spell-out at the first appearance and use an acronym onward consistently.
Revised as suggested by the reviewer
L266,268
DOE (2009) is absent from the reference list.
Revised as suggested by the reviewer
L274
Where is Kuching? See Fig.1.
Position now indicated in the map
L286
Department of Environment (DOE) -> DOE
See L266.
Revised as suggested by the reviewer
L288
displayed; -> displayed:
A semicolon means &, whereas a colon does e.s.
Revised as suggested by the reviewer
L290
It is against the background above that we conducted -> Under the background above, we conducted
Revised as suggested by the reviewer
L298
Where is Sungai Asap?
Position indicated in the map
L307,308,369,370,371,384,385,387,393,394,397,398,400,401,402,403,404,434
percent -> %
The journal style will be followed here.
L319
otherwise -> else ?
Revised as suggested by the reviewer
L320
You need explanation of "a household-to-household approach".
household-by-household ?
Revised as suggested by the reviewer and explanation added.
L329
Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) -> NGOs
See L139.
Revised as suggested by the reviewer
L332-336
Move to M&M section with some revision to fit in.
Moved and revised as suggested by the reviewer
L348
Add figure ID (Figure 3).
Figure ID added
L349,375
Delete (verbose)
Deleted
L350-355
Delete (redundant)
Deleted
L366
Where is Marudi?
Position now indicated in map
L380
Many do it (not a complete sentence) -> It is done largely ?
Or otherwise, if this phrase is exactly what the respondent said, it could be "Many do it (sic)".
“Sic” added
L382
Where is Miri Sarawak?
Position now indicated in map
L394
another -> delete
Deleted
L416
Where is Ulu Balui?
Position now indicated in map
L418
Where is Uma Nyaving?
It is located in the Resettlement Scheme of Sungai Asap (on the map), but the map is unfortunately too small to show its location.
L419
Conclusion -> Discussion
Heading changed
L420
Bakun Hydro-electric Project or (redundant) -> delete
See L59
Deleted
L421
In so doing (verbose) -> delete
Deleted
L478
Having said this (verbose) -> delete
Deleted
L528 references
Check the reference list carefully again from the beginning. Reference lists are frequently den of errors. Follow the journal style. I think the journal style of citation is bracketed numbers in an order of appearance in the text and numbered items in the order. It is the authors' responsibility that all references are properly cited.
Reference list carefully checked
L560
Special Reference -> special reference
Capital letters changed
L561
XXXIX -> 39
Numbering changed
L646
Utusan Konsumer. (1994b) -> Utusan Konsumer. (1994)
Revised
L651
Utusan Konsumer. (1995d) -> Utusan Konsumer. (1995c)
Revised
Reviewer 3 Report
The authors address a highly topical and for the environmental and development policies. The paper is well-written and authentic. My only comment is related to embeding of the paper into the literature review in the introductory part. I suggest that the author refers at least cursorily to the work of a prominent Indonesian Scholar Akhmad Solikin
https://d-nb.info/109588395X/34
Furthermore, it is important that the author refers to the following sources in the context of rent-seeking
(2019) Distributional Bargaining and the Speed of the Structural Change in the Labour-Surplus Petroleum Exporting Countries, The European Journal of Development Research 31(1): 51-98.
(2020) Natural Resources, Technological Progress, and Economic Modernization. Review of Development Economics
(2018) A Note on Revenue Distribution Patterns and Rent Seeking Incentive, International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy 8(2): 196-204, Wilhelm Löwenstein
(2020) Environmental Policy Stringency, Technical Progress and Pollution Haven Hypothesis. Mattia Ferrari. Sustainability 12(9): 1-22.
Author Response
We greatly thank the reviewer for these helpful suggestions on the references, and have added them wherever relevant.
