Forest City: Golf course report contains 'inaccuracies'

The owner of the Forest City Golf Resort, which was constructed within an internationally-recognised mangrove forest, has said that Malaysiakini's report on the matter contained many "inaccuracies".

"We will not comment on the article as it contains inaccurate information and many accusations that do not reflect the facts.

"If I am not mistaken, the Johor government will issue a statement on the matter," said Country Garden Pacificview Sdn Bhd strategic director Ng Zhu Hann, as reported by The Malaysian Insight.

It cited Ng as stating that the land was acquired legally with an industrial and commercial title after obtaining the necessary approvals.

Malaysiakini had end January submitted a list of questions to Ng and other Forest City representatives on land matters concerning the Forest City Golf Resort, the commencement date of the project and also information on the Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (DEIA) report.

Forest City officials did not respond to those queries. Malaysiakini communicated with Ng yesterday but he was unwilling to go on record saying internal discussions were ongoing.

Yesterday, Malaysiakini published a special report on how the Johor government had allowed parts of the Sungai Pulai mangrove forest, which was gazetted as a forest reserve in 1962, to be turned into a 2,000-acre golf resort.

The forest is recognised as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention - an international treaty to which Malaysia is a signatory.

Meanwhile, the same The Malaysian Insight report also cited Johor exco member Tan Hong Pin as stating that the land used for the golf course was de-gazetted as a forest reserve in 2017.

However, when contacted by Malaysiakini, he clarified that he did not say so.

"I didn't confirm anything (to that reporter). I don't have the information at hand [...] all I said was that we (DAP assemblypersons) had revealed about the (golf course resort) project two years ago.

He added that the matter was not within his jurisdiction as the Johor state exco for local government, science, and technology adding the issue needed to be further discussed at the state cabinet meeting.

"I don't have further details and I cannot comment on it. I was surprised by the report on The Malaysian Insight," he said reiterating his portfolio did not involve land matters. -Mkini