About one hundred people gathered near Parliament this morning to urge the government to revamp the National Forestry Act 1984 for the protection of rainforests and the rights of the Orang Asli.

The Organisation for the Preservation of Natural Heritage's (Peka) representative, Thiyagu Ganesan called for a constitutional amendment to ensure the environment is not harmful to the people’s health and wellbeing.

He also urged Pakatan Harapan to amend around 40 provisions of the National Forestry Act 1984, and raise the threshold and procedures for removing the reserve status of forests.

Under section 11 of the Forestry Act, Peka proposed the addition of a clause to require state governments to seek approval from three regulatory authorities - Department of Environment, Department of Wildlife and National Parks and Department of Orang Asli Development (Jakoa) - before degazetting any forest as a forest reserve.

Currently, section 11 of the act states that a "state authority" has the power to remove the status of a forest reserve. The “state authority” refers to the ruler or Yang di-Pertua Negeri of a state and includes, the Yang di-Pertuan Besar acting on behalf of himself and the ruling chiefs. In general, it refers to the state government.

Peka recommends an amendment to the Forestry Act for the setting up of state forestry expert councils which will have the power to investigate, to collect public opinion, and to submit reports to state government.

READ MORE: Teeing off in a forest reserve

Previously, Putrajaya mentioned that it has no intention of amending the Federal Constitution to curb deforestation.

Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Xavier Jayakumar had explained that it was agreed during the formation of Malaysia that land falls under the jurisdiction of state governments.

However, he also noted that the government will set standard operating procedures to guide state authorities on removing the status of a forest reserve.

Xavier added that the government is planning to amend the National Forestry Act 1984 in March next year.

Memorandum submitted to deputy minister

The crowd began to gather at Padang Merbok around 8am, and made their way towards Parliament to submit a memorandum around an hour later.

The memorandum was submitted by Peka president Shariffa Sabrina Syed Akil (photo) to Deputy Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Tengku Zulpuri Shah Raja Puji.

The deputy minister later expressed that the government welcome the opinion of the people and organisations.

In the memorandum, Peka proposed the addition of Article 13A to the Federal Constitution Article 13 on "Rights to property" to include "the right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or wellbeing and to have the environment protected.

The rally was organised by NGO Pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah Alam Malaysia (Peka) and saw the participation of several other environmental NGOs and Orang Asli rights groups, which include Gua Musang Orang Asli Development Association (Moada), Klima Action Malaysia, Kuasa Perak, Green Peace Malaysia and Malaysia Animal Association. 

The crowd displayed placards with messages like "Cut the greed, not the green," "SOP will not save the forest" and "Keep the forest for the rakyat."

They also sang "We will we will stop you," adapted from the song "We Will Rock You" by the rock band, Queen. 

The rally ended peacefully around 10am.

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