After floods, Baling MP wants limit on state power over forests, land
Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim (BN-Baling) said the recent flood which hit his constituency showed there is a need for the federal government to intervene in land matters.
"After this, the federal government should...
PARLIAMENT | A BN lawmaker wants state governments to no longer be given full autonomy over land and forestry matters as provided under the Federal Constitution.
Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim (BN-Baling) said the recent flood which hit his constituency showed there is a need for the federal government to intervene in land matters.
"After this, the federal government should no longer give full power to state governments (over land matters).
"This issue (disasters due to forest development) has occurred too many times," he told the Dewan Rakyat today.
For example, states must get approval from Putrajaya if they want to excise forest reserves for development, he added.
Azeez pointed out that the current power demarcation over land could lead to situations where the federal government is in the dark about what the state has done to its forests.
Baling was ravaged by floods two weeks ago that killed three people and displaced hundreds of others.
Many have blamed the disaster on deforestation at Gunung Inas to make way for a durian plantation.
The durian farm project itself was supposed to be a rubber tree logging plantation. Past and present menteris besar are now blaming each other over the project.
Azeez said disasters have hit multiple areas in the country this year, including at Janda Baik and Bentong in Pahang, Hulu Langat in Selangor, and Jelebu in Negeri Sembilan.
Each time disaster strikes, state governments are unable to cope, requiring the federal government and its agencies to provide aid and disaster relief, he added.
Hence, he proposed that the federal government at the very least have representatives sit in on state government boards that decide on land matters.
Azeez made his plea while debating the National Forestry (Amendment) Bill.
The bill does not provide for amendments to the Federal Constitution to allow Putrajaya to intervene in state land matters.
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