Anwar must resolve water, deforestation issues in Selangor

 

While Anwar Ibrahim, head of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition is busy trying to convince the country that he has the majority in Parliament to become the next prime minister, the citizens of PH-run Selangor would rather he resolve two pressing issues, namely, the never-ending water pollution in the state and the menteri besar’s proposed degazettement of the Kuala Langat North Forest Reserve (KLNFR).

Pollution of Selangor water sources

The contamination of Sungai Selangor, which affects the water supply of more than one million consumers in more than a thousand areas in the Klang Valley, is but the latest water pollution scandal in a series of such incidents since the PH government took office in 2008.

The enforcement agencies, local authorities and state officials have continued to allow illegal factories to operate in these river buffer zones while the water polluters have managed to get away with their wanton acts.

Even if the menteri besar and his Cabinet resign, as accountable elected officials do elsewhere, the water “problem” will remain unresolved. What is urgently required is a coordinated holistic vision with evidence and action from the top leadership of PH that shows they are serious about protecting and conserving our water sources.

Such a vision has to be comprehensive in nature and address root cause issues, namely clearing all factories from river buffer zones, reforesting watersheds, implementing proper waste disposal strategies and demonstrating in multiple natural and innovative ways how to respectfully manage finite water sources.

And no, prime minister, we do not need to extract groundwater!

The proposed degazettement of KLNFR

The proposed degazettement and development of the KLNFR by Menteri Besar Selangor Incorporated is the litmus test of PH’s commitment to the Paris Agreement on the reduction of greenhouse gases and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The peatland forest is reputed to be the best carbon sink on the planet, and it would be sacrilegious to destroy what is left of the forest reserve, including its critically endangered species.

Its proposed degazettement violates the national plan to maintain our existing forest area, the Selangor Structure Plan 2035 as well as the Kuala Langat Local Plan 2030.

Concerned NGOs expect Anwar to oppose the degazettement and to state his stand on the proposed destruction of more than 900ha of peat swamp forest reserve which will affect the lives of some 2000 Temuan Orang Asli in the area.

The Selangor menteri besar has been carrying out town hall meetings which concerned NGOs have found to be merely cosmetic exercises. We have no faith in the Selangor menteri besar on this issue since it was Menteri Besar Selangor Incorporated that applied for the degazettement in the first place and the menteri besar himself sits on the decision-making committee.

We want to remind PH that they need to be more progressive than the British colonial power that gazetted the KLFNR in 1927, and to show a real commitment to transparency, accountability and public participation if they are truly different from the ruling coalition.

Kua Kia Soong is adviser for Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram). - FMT

The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.