Environment groups condemn de-gazettement of Kuala Langat forest reserve

Two environmental groups have strongly condemned the Selangor government’s de-gazettement of half of the Kuala Langat North forest as a permanent reserve, as well as the lack of transparency and accountability behind the decision.

The Pertahankan Hutan Simpan Kuala Langat Utara (PHSKLU) coalition and the Malaysian Youth for Forest Action (MyHutan) also said the de-gazettement is a violation of the rights of the Orang Asli who live in that area.

“The PHSKLU coalition strongly condemns the decision by the Selangor state government, led by Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari, to degazette 536.7ha of the Kuala Langat North forest reserve on May 5, 2021.

“We condemn the lack of public consultation with key stakeholders and lack of detailed information on the process and results of the public inquiry into the de-gazettement of the forest reserve,” said the group in a statement today.

The public inquiry was conducted almost a year ago but there has not been any reported results or further public discussions, they said.

Meanwhile, in a separate statement, MyHutan also demanded for transparency and accountability behind the state government’s decision as it would lead to the displacement of the Orang Asli communities there.

“It is irrefutable that there was overwhelming dissent from the communities of the Kuala Langat North forest reserve such as the Orang Asli, the populace as well as civil societies,” MyHutan said.

The PHSKLU claimed the Department of Forestry had received more than 45,000 objections while an online petition had garnered around 130,000 signatures since two years ago.

“The #HutanPergiMana campaign in October 2020 tracked 1,500 persons who sent protest emails within a month to elected legislative representatives in Selangor.

“The people of Selangor represented by their state assembly representatives have clearly stated - no more de-gazettement of any forest reserves in Selangor.

“This decision to de-gazette the Kuala Langat North forest reserve blatantly ignores the mandate of the people,” they said.

Not only that, PHSKLU said humanity is in “code red” at this time, with the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report released early August warning of irreversible damage and climate catastrophes if no immediate climate action is taken.

As such, degazetting a forest reserve at this time shows “short-sightedness in pursuit of profit” and a lack of understanding of the severity of the climate crisis, they said.

The Kuala Langat North forest reserve, they said, is an 8,000-year-old peat swamp forest, one of the last in southern Selangor.

MyHutan said the peatlands in the forest reserve also act as a critical buffer against flood risks and as a carbon sink as well.

It was revealed during question time at the Selangor legislative assembly yesterday that the state government had quietly de-gazetted 54 percent of the Kuala Langat North forest as a permanent reserve in May.

This move will allow 536.7ha from the 991.9ha forest to be exploited.

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