DAP today demanded that Malacca Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam back his claim that a portion of a permanent forest reserve was cleared to accommodate a theme park which the city folk wanted.

The 'illegal' logging activity was exposed two days ago by DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng who led a team of reporters to the Bukit Beruang forest reserve after receiving complaints from the public.

However, Mohd Ali was reported in the newspapers today as saying that 41ha of the 164ha reserve had been de-gazetted last year and was no longer a forest sanctuary. The project, he said, is confined to that area alone.

The area is to be turned into a theme park and an 'eco-housing' project called the 'International Youth Village' which costs RM20 million and is a joint-venture undertaking with a private company.

'Main culprit'

Responding, Lim slammed the CM's move and submitted that his earlier accusation that the state government was an 'unwitting accomplice' was officially debunked when it is now clear that the state was the 'main culprit' in the forest's destruction.

"This is a complete shock to me. Now then, what is the use of laws that give rise to gazetted areas when you can de-gazette a permanent forest reserve so easily?

"A permanent forest reserve should be what it is - permanent. That means forever," said an annoyed Lim when contacted.

He was upset that such actions only serve to make a mockery of national laws and statutory provisions.

The DAP leader also challenged Mohd Ali to conduct a referendum on the project among Malacca city folk, who make up about 60 percent of the state's population, which Lim was confident will show the people's opposition towards the destruction.

Empty promises

Lim did not mince his words when he accused the state government of completely 'white-washing' the public.

"This development just goes to show that the CM has been making empty promises to the rakyat (citizens) on issues of protecting the environment. It's just a complete eye-wash," he said.

He referred to the CM's pledge in 2000 when Mohd Ali was quoted in the media as saying this particular project "will not encroach on the gazetted forest reserve land".

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy Najib Tun Razak were also urged to ensure federal government directives and national environmental policies are adhered to.

"The premier, in a bio-diversity conference in January this year, had called for the better protection of the environment.

"The deputy premier, later on in March, said a directive will be issued to CMs and Menteris Besar to ensure that no environmental encroachment occurs such as the one similar to the Bukit Cahaya Seri Alam Agricultural Park incident ," said Lim.

Lim also urged the premier to intervene in the Bukit Beruang issue.

'Abuse of power'

Meanwhile, Mohd Ali also admitted that he was aware of high commercial valued trees being felled and said that the logging company conducting the state-approved deforestation had paid the state RM61,000 in royalty for it.

"There is no concrete commercial benefits from this. For only a few miserable ringgit you undertake to destroy a forest? This has not gone down well with Malaccans of all races," Lim claimed.

"Furthermore, the park project will also produce high-end housing like bungalows. It only enriches a few. The poor can't afford living there. They don't benefit from it," he added.

Lim went on to submit that the actions of Mohd Ali were tantamount to an abuse of power.

Bids to protect the country's greenery has often been met with resistance as environmentalists have claimed the authorities were keener to promote structural development.