NGOs appeal to Selangor ruler to intervene in plan to degazette forest reserve

 

A coalition of NGOs called the "Defend the North Kuala Langat Forest Reserve" has appealed to Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah to intervene in the state government's proposal to degazette 931 hectares from the forest reserve in Kuala Langat.

One of the members involved in the campaign to oppose the degazetting of the forest reserve, Pertubuhan Pelindungan Khazanah Alam Malaysia (Peka), noted that a private company linked to the Selangor palace is allegedly involved in a plan to develop the area as reported by the media.

Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari had in February last year said any approval for a mixed-development project would see the state gazetting new peat forest areas of "at least 1,092ha" in replacement.

At the time, Singapore-based daily The Straits Times quoted an official source who said that state-run Menteri Besar Inc would own some 364ha of the proposed development, while the remaining 566.56ha would be awarded to Titian Jutaria, a private company with reported links to the Selangor palace.

"The Selangor Sultan's family name is linked to a company said to be involved in the project as reported in the media," said Peka exco member and Selangor chapter head Damien Thanam Divean.

"So to dispel or neutralise this claim, the sultan should participate and discuss with the Selangor government or order it to cancel the plan to degazette the forest," he said.

 Divean added that the sultan, during his opening speech at the Selangor State Legislstive Assembly sitting in 2019, had reminded the state government to protect forest reserves in the state.

Earlier, the coalition held a virtual media conference to relay its plan to further pressure Amirudin to cancel the project to preserve the 8,000-year-old peat forest.

Klima Action Malaysia (Kamy) chairperson Ili Nadiah Dzulfakar said the coalition has launched the second phase of its campaign to get the public to join in pressuring the state government to act.

The public, not necessarily those who live in Selangor, could visit the greenpeace website and fill in a form to voice out their protest.

The campaign will run from today until March 14.

In the first phase of the campaign, launched last year, all 71 assemblypersons in the Selangor state assembly approved a motion urging the state government to preserve gazetted forest reserves in the state.

 "This campaign is not only for the people who live in Kuala Langat or Selangor, but it's for everyone as well as the international community.

"You are encouraged to voice your objection," Ili Nadiah said.

Despite the previous protest, Amirudin had said that the state government was still considering to proceed with the plan to degazette the area. His statement had angered the environmental NGOs.

Suaram coordinator Suresh Kumar Balasubramaniam said the coalition is discussing with lawyers to look into the possibility of litigation on the matter.

However, he noted that Amirudin cannot be charged with ignoring the unanimous voice of the 71 assemblypersons.

"The motion is not legally binding. The menteri besar and executive councillors don't necessarily need to follow whatever motion is presented in the state assembly.

"That's the weakness in our democracy system," he said. - Mkini