The Penang government's claim that "not a single square inch" of the state's forest reserves have been destroyed since 2006 has come under the scrutiny of Penang MCA.

Penang MCA secretary Tang Heap Seng said that although the claim may be true, it does not mean that trees are not being felled in the state, or that hills are not being cleared.

Citing Bukit Relau and Teluk Bahang as examples, Tang said hill clearings by private owners had caused environmental damage, resulting in floods and landslides.

"These areas are not part of forest reserves. So the chief minister is taking advantage of (the situation) by claiming that Penang’s forest reserves are intact.

"However, the fact is that forests in areas surrounding the forest reserves are being destroyed," he said.

Tang cited Penang Island City Council (MBPP) data collected by the Penang Forum, a coalition of NGOs, which showed that there were at least 80 cases of illegal development on hillslopes.

"The situation is serious. Why aren't the Penang government and MBPP taking action? Is the Penang government colluding with developers?" Tang asked.

He said that the priority for the state government was to ensure that there was adequate enforcement of the rules on property developers.

"Environmentally friendly Penangites who love their hills and rivers will not forgive Pakatan Harapan," he added.

Recently, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, citing figures from the National Forestry Department, said Penang had not cleared a "single square inch" of its permanent forest reserves over the past 10 years.

In contrast, Pahang led the country with 161,379 hectares of forest reserves cleared, followed by Perak (74,032 hectares) and Kelantan (57,919 hectares).
Pahang.

Lim also said that the illegal clearing of private land had been stopped by local authorities.

The National Forestry Department figures, he added, showed that if BN were to form the next state government, the state's forest reserves would likely end up being cleared.

"Clearly, those who are turning (Malaysia's) hills and forests 'botak' (bald) are BN and their new ally PAS in Kelantan," Lim quipped.