COMMENT Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) is appalled by Selangor MB Azmin Ali’s Selangor Pakatan government's persistence to simultaneously degazette forest reserves for the construction of highways.
Last week, key newspapers carried advertisements by the Forestry Department on the government's intention to degazette the forest to allow the construction of the highways. The public have been given 30 days to voice their objection.
The affected forests will be the Bukit Cherakah forest reserve and Sungai Buloh forest for the Damansara Shah Alam Highway (DASH) construction cutting through it. The Bukit Sungei Puteh forest in Hulu Langat has also been identified to be degazetted for the Sungei Besi Ulu Kelang Highway (SUKE).
Besides the abovementioned forest, building works have already begun on the East Klang Valley Expressway (EKVE) which will require the Ampang state forest, the Selangor state park up to the Ulu Gombak forest reserve to be degazetted.
In midst of widespread objections by many communities living adjacent to the forest reserves, the highway alignment and environmental organisations, the so called ‘people’s Pakatan Harapan government of Selangor has decided to bulldoze through the project approvals.
It also remains a mystery when and how the Selangor government degazetted the Selangor state park for the EKVE project. The highway builders Ahmad Zaki Resources Bhd (AZRB) have already begun felling trees to commence works.
Pakatan's betrayal of voters
PSM condemns Azmin’s Selangor government for their total disregard for the environment and preservation of our national forest heritage. We raise the following concerns;
1. What’s the rationale in de gazetting a forest reserve when they were are meant to be protected areas? The Gombak and Ampang forest reserves as well as the Klang Gates quartz ridge are part of Taman Warisan Negeri Selangor (TWNS). The gazettement process of this area as a state park began in 2007. As a state park, TWNS is a protected area classified as Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) Rank 1 under the National Physical Plan 2005.
2. PSM stresses that any construction works cutting through the forest will permanently destroy the ecosystem and disastrously affect the flora and fauna. It cannot be replaced or substituted by gazetting another forest area in another location.
3. The Selangor state park was gazetted by the previous menteri besar Khir Toyo of the BN government. But now it will be destroyed by the Pakatan Harapan government whom the people of Selangor gave an overwhelming support to in the 2008 and 2013 elections. What a betrayal to the people!
4. The Hulu Gombak and Ampang forest reserves are also classified as water catchment forests under the National Forestry Act Selangor Enactment 2005 as well as the Luas Enactment 1999.
5. In times of climate change and the extreme temperatures becoming worse every year, why is the Selangor government destroying its readily available water catchment areas?
6. More highways in the Klang Valley has been proven to not solve the traffic congestion problems. The highways only serve their purpose for two years before they are congested again by ever increasing traffic.
7. Is really saving an extra 20 minutes driving from toll A to toll B worth the irreversible environmental devastation to our natural forest heritage? Is it worth to destroy our source of water for our future generations?
Azmin's government is about to commit the worst ever man-made environmental destruction by simultaneously wiping out Selangor’s key forest heritage. The Pakatan government has proven to be completely ignorant of the people’s voice and their environmental policies and promises are only fit for the waste dump now.
PSM immediately calls on Azmin to stop the degazettement of the forest cancel the proposed EKVE, SUKE and DASH highway projects.
A SIVARAJAN is Parti Sosialis Malaysia secretary-general.
