COMMENT | On Aug 30, the Selangor Executive Council (Selangor exco) announced that the government has de-gazetted half of the Kuala Langat North Forest Reserve (KLNFR). This shocked not only the public who were vehemently against this proposal, but its own majority State Assembly and the governing party coalition Pakatan Harapan.

The decision was made in May when the nation was on prolonged Covid-19 lockdown, but only revealed when queried at the State Assembly. Equally baffling was the reasons given which defy science, logic, and due legal and administrative processes.

First to put into context, let me delve deeper into the KLNFR, an intact peat swamp forest in a fast-developing urban centre.

As the environment chief in the Asean Secretariat from 2000-2014, I was responsible, among others, for planning and implementing peatland forest rehabilitation and conservation, synergising experiences and cross-learning among the 10 Asean...