A group of activists has demanded a meeting with Selangor state executive councillor Hee Loy Sian to clarify the state government’s alleged “misleading” claims on the status of the southern portion of the Bukit Cherakah forest.
Hee was alleged to have erroneously cited a document known as “PW1443” in his press release to back the state government’s claim that the land was no longer considered a forest reserve since 2006.
The Shah Alam Community Forest Society (SACFS) is challenging the veracity of Hee’s account and wants to discuss the matter in person.
SACFS sought an appointment with Hee in a letter that was hand-delivered to the Selangor government headquarters in Shah Alam today.
“We have looked into your (Hee’s) statement in which you referred to a gazette map PW1443 as proof of the gazette.
“As far as we can understand from the forestry laws standpoint, this is not evidence proving that the forest areas in Section U10 of Shah Alam have been degazetted.
“We view that it would be best for us to meet with you to discuss the issue in detail. We hope you give us an early meeting date so this confusion can be resolved immediately,” SACFS said in their letter which was sighted by Malaysiakini.
The letter was received by Hee's special assistant Hiew Kim Boon as Hee, the tourism, environment, green technology and orang asal affairs exco, is abroad.
SACFS: What does the 'P' stand for?
Speaking to reporters afterwards, SACFS spokesperson Adli Maharon said while a Selangor gazette with the code PW1443 exists, it is not related to Bukit Cherakah.
However, the code PW1443 also appears as a map made by the Survey and Mapping Department, which could either refer to a pemberitahuan warta (gazette notification) or pelan warta (gazette plan).
“So what is the meaning of the letter 'P' here? Is it referring to the notice or the plan?” Adli asked.
Either way, SACFS is of the opinion that neither documents at the department would indicate that the land was no longer part of the Bukit Cherakah forest reserve.
Previously, residents in U10 Shah Alam complained that forest clearing in the vicinity could possibly lead to flash floods.
Following this, the state government claimed that the area in question was excised from the forest reserve under the previous BN administration and thus available for development, which was disputed by the residents and activists. - Mkini
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