Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) today called on the federal and state governments to impose a permanent moratorium on all mining and logging activities in Malaysian forests.
Its central committee member Sharan Raj said that such activities would only damage the country's lush tropical rainforests.
"Malaysia as a country in the archipelago is gifted with tropical rainforests and biodiversity. These rainforests play a major function in preventing climate crises, compared to other types of forest in the world.
"The public also should not be blinded by politicians and capitalists who claim that mining and logging activities will make our country rich.
"While these activities would profit the capitalists a lot, they also cause pollution to the water, air and earth, which in turn would impact the people including Orang Asli and farmers. These capitalists and politicians would be able to move out of Malaysia (when the situation turns bad), but we the commoners would have to live with all the destruction," he said in a statement.
Sharan, who is coordinator for PSM environment and climate crisis bureau, also condemned mining and logging companies, particularly those which abused their relationship with the royals.
He claimed that this was done to help the companies get easy access to undertake their projects.
"We are very disappointed with the action of these capitalists, who make use of royal family members as their business partners so that they can acquire permission from the state governments, and protect themselves from public criticisms," he said.
Since early this month, Malaysiakini has highlighted several mining projects in Pahang that have links to the royals.
One of them is a mining operation near Tasik Chini in Pekan, which is home to the country's second-largest natural lake.
The same mining company was also reported to be planning another project, also with a link to Pahang royalty, in Ulu Tembeling, Jerantut. - Mkini
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