Pulau Kukup to remain a national park - Johor MB
JOHOR DUN | Pulau Kukup in Pontian will remain a national park, Johor Menteri Besar Osman Sapian stated today.
"Upon discussion, His Highness Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar is agreeable that Pulau Kukup retains its use as a Johor national park, and be minded and guarded by the state government under the Johor National Parks Corporation," he said.
Many quarters had protested when news came to light that the island, one of five sites in Malaysia recognised by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, had been degazetted as a national park...
JOHOR DUN | Pulau Kukup in Pontian will remain a national park, Johor Menteri Besar Osman Sapian stated today.
"Upon discussion, His Highness Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar is agreeable that Pulau Kukup retains its use as a Johor national park, and be minded and guarded by the state government under the Johor National Parks Corporation," he said.
Many quarters had protested when news came to light that the island, one of five sites in Malaysia recognised by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, had been degazetted as a national park.
It was revealed that the decision was made by the previous BN administration in March, and that the land was instead to be registered under Sultan Ibrahim.
"In short, when a land status is modified as sultanate land, it is bound by the Sultanate (Lands) Enactment 1934, which means that no development can take place there.
"However, the explanation on the degazetting of Pulau Kukup's status (as a national park), which had been recognised as a wetland island, is still unable to assuage the concerns of the rakyat.
"Hence, as a state government that is watchful of the people, I will ensure Pulau Kukup remains a national park," he said in his winding-up speech on the state budget at the Johor State Legislative Assembly today.
Osman (photo) said this reflected the concern of the ruler on the important role played by wetlands as natural wave breakers and in preserving biodiversity.
"The motion on the status of Pulau Kukup has been tabled and I have agreed to bring this matter up in the state exco meeting.
"I am nobody's puppet, but serve the rakyat that accords its trust upon my team, (and) this will not be betrayed," he said.
As such, he said the issue of Pulau Kukup need not be prolonged any further.
Read more: Don't meddle with Pulau Kukup, TMJ tells 'outsider' Xavier
The Pakatan Harapan-led state government had stated that the degazetting of the island was decided in a Johor executive council meeting in March this year, while BN was still administering the state.
This was to facilitate the land to be registered under the name of Sultan Ibrahim.
The crown prince, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, had later assured Johoreans that the move was in Pulau Kukup's best interests, and that it would continue to function as a national park.
The island is recognised as one of the few remaining pristine wetlands in Southeast Asia and is home to many endangered species such as the flying fox, smooth otter, bearded pig, and long-tailed macaque.
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