Environment, the new political battleground

It is World Environment Day today, first established in 1972 by the United Nations General Assembly. On this day, Heads of State, Prime Ministers and Ministers of Environment deliver statements and commit themselves to care for the Earth. 

Hopefully, Natural Resources and Environment Minister G Palanivel will tell us what he intends to do for the environment and if he will fulfil the promises of his predecessor Douglas Uggah to save Tasik Chini.

Weeks before the 13th general election, headlines in the mainstream media screamed at the wanton destruction of numerous environmental sites - particularly in Pakatan Rakyat-governed states - such as Ulu Muda in Kedah and Orang Asli lands in Ulu Kelantan. 

On the campaign trail, however, very few politicians made any significant commitments to protect our rainforests, the rights of indigenous communities to their land and resources, to saving our dying rivers or stopping millions of hectares of our forests disappearing due to illegal logging and corruption.

Human rights violations of those who defend their land and resources receive scant attention in the media.

Malaysians are generally not aware of the crimes committed against land rights defenders, such as the case ofSurik anak Muntai who was seriously injured on March 15 while fighting for land rights in Melkin, Sarawak. 

Where was the public outcry over such a heinous crime? 

Our concern for the environment seems to be largely for flora and fauna, walking in our urban parks and for water, not beyond the toilet lever. 

The environmental movement in Malaysia has largely failed to address environmental concerns in the context of social justice and human rights. 

The urban middle class has generally campaigned to protect public parks and for more trees to be planted in their neighbourhoods.

One thousand people including former premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Star group editor Wong Chun Wai walked on July 15 last year, against development  in Bukit Kiara, Kuala Lumpur.

Will Abdullah and the Save Bukit Kiara supporters walk to protect the remaining tropical forests of Sarawak and the native customary rights of indigenous communities against illegal logging, dams and plantation development?

Environmental concerns have largely been seen by the public as conservation of nature and the  protection of wild species and habitats through campaigns such as Save Belum-Temenggor Forest and Save Endau Rompin. 

Malaysia is one of 12 mega-diversity countries, with most of the biological diversity found in Sabah and Sarawak.

However, the policy emphasis has been to protect the country’s rich biodiversity through science, and not through the participation of people and communities.

Malaysian politicians and lawmakers have generally not played a prominent role in the development and review of national and state policies that govern our environment, forests and rivers. 

Environmental governance is fragmented with states holding power over natural resources. The federal constitution does not deal with the environment.

This has resulted in the state governments making related decisions based on economic and political considerations and enriching the political elite, rather than on concerns for the environment.

Impact of misplaced priorities

Malaysia is a signatory to the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. However, it is unclear who the implementing body is, in delivering commitments. This has impacted the rights of indigenous people to their land and resources. 

The rights of indigenous people and Orang Asal to their ancestral land is a pre-existing right that cannot be extinguished - this must be recognised and access to natural resources guaranteed for these communities. This is a language that few politicians understand or can articulate as their political pledge. 

National policies such as the National Environment Policy and the National Biological Diversity Policy are both far-reaching and cross-sectorial in nature. But they are poorly enforced, while determining the lead agency to coordinate and implement these policies is troublesome. 

Associate Professor Azmi Sharom of the Universiti Malaya law faculty has suggested that international laws be used as a solution, since the constitution allows Parliament to implement international obligations. 

In Malaysia, the economic paradigm takes precedence over social and ecological concerns. As such, lawmakers are reluctant to place a premium on the concerns of the environment and the rights of indigenous communities.

However, a shift is taking place as Malaysians are beginning to feel the impact of climate change such as rising temperatures, unusual rainfall patterns, flash floods and landslides. 

Millions of hectares of our tropical forests are disappearing due to logging, mining, plantation expansion, land grabbing and large dams, pouring billions of tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and contributing to climate change. 

Malaysians have begun to realise that our rainforests have become a tool for political control and to enrich the powerful elite, thanks to organisations like Global Witness and its video ‘Inside Malaysia’s Shadow State’. 

I hope this heightened consciousness on the ecological emergency confronting Malaysia will translate to an urgent sense of political and public purpose to halt the destruction of the lives of indigenous communities, as well as forests and biodiversity.

A seismic shift in environmental consciousness is needed to make environment the new political battleground.

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JOSIE FERNANDEZ is an anti-corruption and environmental activist and an Asian Public Intellectual Fellow.