The Selangor government will meet with environmental groups to hear their objections to the construction of the East Klang Valley Expressway (EKVE) said to be threatening the forest reserve.

“We will take the matter through a public hearing process and the National Forestry Act procedures on investigations must be employed.

“I have contacted (the group’s spokesperson) […] to inform the complainants to meet with the state government shortly so that their objections can be heard and we can explain,” said Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali today.

Speaking to the media after Selangor’s monthly staff meeting in Shah Alam, Azmin said he has instructed his administration to ensure that the regulations of the Act be observed in making a decision on the case.

Last week, the Malaysian Nature Society pointed out that the highway’s construction has being responsible for the sighting of an endangered species, the serow, wandering the streets of Ampang, Selangor.

Environmentalists say the antelope-like animal had been driven out of its natural habitat allegedly being damaged by the EKVE works.

The area that runs through the Ampang Forest Reserve has been declared as a no-go zone for visitors, to make way for the construction of the 39.5km tolled highway which will connect Sungai Long to Damansara.

A total of 106.5ha has been allocated for the project which will also encroach into the Klang Gates Quartz Ridge in Ulu Klang, Selangor, an area originally gazetted in 1936 chiefly to protect the serow.

The Selangor state government had in June last year given its go-ahead for the federal project, despite concerns raised over potential impact on the environment.