The Organisation for the Preservation of Natural Heritage (Peka) has urged the federal and Johor governments to review the Forest City Golf Resort that is located amidst the Sungai Pulai forest reserve's mangrove swamps.
In a statement, Peka president Sharifa Sabrina Syed Akil said the authorities must determine if the land was legally acquired and whether the development was compliant with the Johor Bahru and Kulai District Local Plan 2025.
"According to the local plan, the area in question is designated as a forested area and according to planning laws, any change to the local plan requires a public hearing," said Sharifa.
The prominent environmental activist said Sungai Pulai's importance as a wetland had been very well documented internationally.
Sharifa pointed to the Johor Sustainability Policy 2017-2021 which spelt out specific initiatives to conserve and manage Sungai Pulai, including efforts to include the area as part of Unesco's man and biosphere programme (MAB).
The policy was drawn up when Mohammed Khaled Nordin was Johor menteri besar.
The Sungai Pulai forest reserve was gazetted in 1962. In 2003, it was identified as a wetland of international importance and placed on the Ramsar List. Malaysia is a signatory of the Ramsar Convention.
In a special report today, Malaysiakini established that Forest City Golf Resort was built in an area that is part of the forest reserve.
Sharifa said the present federal and state governments must take decisive action to safeguard the integrity of the Sungai Pulai ecosystem and demonstrate to the international community that Malaysia is committed to the Ramsar Convention.
"When the facts have been ascertained, we hope that the authorities will act without fear or favour and demolish any structure that has been built inside the forest reserve in contravention of the law and evict all unauthorised parties.
"While much damage has been done, it can still be mitigated by cancelling plans for the two golf courses that have yet to be built and compelling the developer to compensate for the valuable ecosystem services that have been lost," she said.
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SPECIAL REPORT: Teeing off in a forest reserve
SPECIAL REPORT: Malaysiakini's four-part Sopa award-winning series on Forest City
SPECIAL REPORT: Broken dreams - the plight of Forest City's migrant workers
