Selangor Harapan: State exco to deliberate Kuala Langat degazettement

 

Selangor Pakatan Harapan has pushed for the state executive council to once again discuss its controversial decision to degazette half of the Kuala Langat (North) forest reserve.

Amirudin Shari is both state Harapan chief and the menteri besar.

“Selangor Harapan component party chiefs met this morning to discuss the degazettement of the forest reserve.

“All parties stated their respective views and concerns, and they agreed that the menteri besar will bring this issue to the next executive council meeting on Wednesday, Sept 8, 2021 to consider its direction and decision in this issue,” they said.

The statement was co-signed by Amirudin representing PKR, Gobind Singh Deo representing DAP and Izham Hashim representing Amanah.

The move comes after widespread criticism against the degazettement from environmental groups and lawmakers from both sides of the political divide.

Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim had summoned Amirudin to explain the decision and the latter was said to have agreed to “delay” the degazettement.

However, Amiruddin has yet to come forward to personally confirm any postponement.

On Aug 30, the Selangor legislative assembly heard that the state had degazetted 54 percent (536.7ha) of the forest reserve three months prior on May 5.

This is equivalent to the size of 751 football fields.

Of that area, little-known private firm Gabungan Indah Sdn Bhd will be given 494.7ha for a mixed development project.Objection to PJD Link

Meanwhile, Selangor Harapan also expressed its opposition to the proposed Petaling Jaya Dispersal Link (PJD Link) project.

“Attention was also given to objections to the PJD Link highway proposal and discussed at length.

“Selangor Harapan notes that the PJD Link has not been approved by the state government.

“The meeting agreed to reject any effort to revive the Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (Kidex) project or the like,” the statement read.

All three leaders stressed that state development should be guided by Harapan’s principles on the environment and respecting the people’s concerns.

Izham, who is in the state executive council, previously told the state legislature that the government had “agreed in principle” to set conditions under which the PJD Link could be implemented.

This decision was made on Sept 30, 2020, and was only revealed this week in response to a question from Bukit Gasing assemblyperson R Rajiv.

The state government has similarly come under fire for this stance. - Mkini