A tragedy in the making?

 

From J J Singam

It was reported in the news on Monday that the Kuala Langat North Forest Reserve (KLNFR) has been approved to be degazzetted for development, that too, apparently in May this year but it was only announced now.

This is in spite of a general uproar and wide-ranging protests that have been ongoing through town hall meetings, as well by environmental-based organisations, NGOs, and the general public via social media, articles and so on.

Even some Selangor state assemblymen have voiced their concerns and disagreement with this entire matter.

How then is it possible for the Pakatan Harapan (PH) state government, who is ostensibly the guardian of Selangoreans’ interest, to make such an opposing decision?

Granted the size of the forest reserve that is being converted for development has been reduced from 931 hectares to 536 hectares, according to the state spokesman who said it was to take into account the protests, but isn’t this a tacit acknowledgement that there is indeed merit to the protests?

So what now that this highly unpopular and disappointing decision to go ahead has been made? My personal suggestion would be the following:

1. Suspend this executive committee decision pending a thorough and unbiased investigation. It was mentioned in the same news report that a 16-member Public Investigation Committee had been set up to study the Full Public Investigation Report on the objections received, this is a good start.

However, as a layman and non-politician, it seems that a decision of such great importance and far-reaching consequences that will affect both current and future generations must be a unanimous decision by all state assemblymen and not just the executive committee, so as to truly reflect the will and desire of the people of Selangor.

The 16-member committee must comprise relevant, qualified and unbiased persons chosen specifically so that their verdict and recommendation is unquestionable and beyond reproach.

2. Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) must be done by world-renowned and acclaimed professionals, and agreed upon by a special committee of state assemblymen from across the political divide. The cost of this EIA must not be a deterrent, because it would be insignificant in comparison to the value of the project and particularly to the cost of a wrong decision.

The terms of reference for the EIA must include every single environmental concern expressed during the earlier protests and also the impact of reducing the last remaining green lung in the area, in this case an 8,000-year-old rainforest which is encircled by large scale property developments.

I would expect that biodiversity has already been greatly impacted through previous deforestation in the area, and reducing the remaining forest by more than half could mean a death sentence for many more species.

Further, the assertion that 40% of the forest has been degraded due to a fire and cannot be recovered and also may pose a fire hazard to surrounding areas must be investigated further. A conclusion must be reached whether it can be rejuvenated naturally or through nurture.

KLNFR was originally gazetted as a forest reserve in 1927 covering 7,246 hectares, but today only 957 hectares remain. The National Forestry Act 1984 has been the legal standard used by the state government. However, 37 years have passed since then – are the facts and assumptions from that time still relevant today with accelerating climate change and alarm bells being rung worldwide?

We do not have some sort of bubble-wrap protection from this, let us not kid ourselves here. Development is necessary, no one begrudges this and the past is behind us. But flattening this last remaining tract of forest and “replacing” it with newly-gazetted forest reserves elsewhere in the state is certainly not an answer to the environmental damage that is imminent, as I am sure a proper EIA will reveal.

Forest reserves are a serious and necessary matter and playing a game of musical chairs with them could have tragic consequences for the people of Selangor and all Malaysians, as climate change does not recognise borders state or otherwise.

3. Peel the onion. Dissect the entire degazettement exercise from the very start. How and why it was mooted, who are the real parties behind it, who are the shareholders of the company awarded the development project, who are the beneficial owners, have there been caveats placed by the state government to prevent the abhorrent practice of “flipping” parcels of land to third parties for a quick profit, etc.

Every single layer of the project must be peeled away and private interests exposed if any. There must be no hiding behind secret and/or confidentiality agreements made behind the scenes, for this is presumably the model that got the previous state government and the political party in power thrown out in the 2008 elections.

It was and still is a betrayal to the people of Selangor and indeed to all Malaysians, and must remain a strong lesson that it will not be tolerated ever again.

4. PH was the strongest proponent of transparency and good governance in the past, so the national level party leaders must get involved in this matter immediately and right the ship before it capsizes. Put the brakes on this before PH’s reputation and image are irreparably tarnished.

If this project were to be pushed forward in spite of all indicators pointing to the contrary, it would mean the Little Napoleon syndrome has afflicted the state and is no more little but grown uncontrollably.

Greed and corruption

If Malaysians are to have faith in our public institutions, the relevant ones must join the fray and voice their opinions without fear or favour. The Selangor state government must endeavour to include this without any coercion or undue influence.

The indefensible should not be defended. A project of this size and scale will invariably breed elements of greed and corruption, this must be nipped in the bud.

PH has been screaming from the rooftops about rooting out corruption and adopting good practices in government. This may be their most visible example of success or failure as the case may be, as we approach the next general election at both state and federal levels.

There have been hints of impropriety in sand mining ventures in Selangor in the past, and rumours of state and national level leaders from PH being implicated have swirled. Some top politicians jumping ship from PH have added grist to the rumour mill, and does not inspire confidence among weary supporters and citizens at large. Perception is important, integrity and credibility is paramount.

Is this to be a tragedy in the making? I would imagine so in more ways than just one – not only an environmental disaster but also a total let down by the PH state government who has been in power since 2008 and in whom we had vested our hopes and dreams for a better Selangor.

I pray that the old saying “absolute power corrupts absolutely” is not the case here for it will have dire and severe implications for all the PH state leaderships, and will also spill over and sully the credibility of the party at the national level.

Do not make a decision that will stay to haunt you, the silent majority watches and will act appropriately to reward or punish you when the time comes.

“Here is your country. Cherish these natural wonders, cherish the natural resources, cherish the history and romance as a sacred heritage, for your children and your children’s children. Do not let selfish men or greedy interests skin your country of its beauty, its riches or its romance.” – Theodore Roosevelt. - FMT

J J Singam is an FMT reader.

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