Formation of Pahang State Parks Corporation 'can endanger conservation'

 

The Pahang State Parks Corporation Bill, just passed in the Pahang legislative assembly today, could endanger the state’s protected forests and biodiversity, environmental group Malaysian Nature Society said.

Instead, it is geared towards commercialising state parks, said MNS Pahang chairperson Noor Jehan Abu Bakar.

“This is extremely dangerous, as it would expose the state parks to serious risk of unsustainable development and resource exploitation,” she said.

She added that the bill, which allows the formation of a powerful Pahang State Parks Corporation, does not address issues of conservation.

The bill's Section VI states that the local authorities will from time to time decide which areas will be included or excised as state parks, and placed under the governance of the Pahang State Parks Corporation.

However, the process of which excision or inclusion is done is not stated, potentially opening these areas of critical and protected biodiversity to exploitation.

It is also silent on provisions for indigenous peoples and local community access to the resources in the parks, she said.

Furthermore, civil society was not engaged in the drafting of the bill, she said.

What is the bill for?

Among others, the bill states that the Pahang State Parks Corporation is tasked to identify, protect and promote Pahang’s state parks.

To do so, it is provided control to administer the state parks, and can form companies to perform these duties, the bill reads.

This means, it can also be involved in "commercial activities to promote and develop the Pahang state parks" and "provide assistance in any form to those wanting to develop" the parks.

It can also "involve itself in any contracts or agreements, and negotiate with any parties on any matter which it feels is necessary".

The corporation will be funded by the 'Pahang State Parks Consolidate Funds.

The funds are made up of state allocations, income through any corporation projects or earned through leases or other charges, the bill reads.

Pahang boasts the largest tract of rainforest in peninsular Malaysia, and is home to protected wildlife and flora.

However, large sections of its protected forests have been cleared for various reasons, including mining, logging and other development.

Currently, indigenous residents of Pos Lanai in Ulu Jelai Forest Reserve are mounting a fight against a proposal to operate a lanthanide mine, the size of 924 football fields, near their settlement.

The proposed 622-ha mine is 6km away from Pos Lanai.

In March, the Department of Environment rejected the mining firm, Aras Kuasa Sdn Bhd's proposed terms for an environmental impact assessment on the project.

Yesterday, Pahang Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail denied that a mining lease had already been issued for the rare earth mine. - Mkini