LETTER | The Pertahankan Hutan Simpan Kuala Langat Utara Coalition (PHSKLU) demands that the Selangor state government carry out its duties and uphold the principles of sustainable development by protecting both the gazetted Hutan Simpan Kuala Langat Utara and Selatan.
Despite the current pandemic, there has been immense public objection to the proposed degazettement of the Hutan Simpan Kuala Langat Utara (HSKLU) which the Selangor state government has failed to acknowledge. This includes the objections raised at the public town hall meeting; the numerous petitions signed (45,000 objections received by the state and 129,034 online signatures); and the extensive media attention both locally and internationally highlighting the need to protect this forest.
But the proposal to degazette HSKLU remains despite clear public objection.
In addition, Usul No. 26 was unanimously passed on Nov 11, 2020, in the Selangor state assembly. This motion was aimed to protect all gazetted forest reserves in Selangor and to ensure the conservation and protection of water catchment and forest areas. This motion reflects the wishes of the rakyat of Selangor for a sustainable future by demanding that there be no more degazettement of any forest reserve.
We demand the Selangor state government carry out its duty to ensure the total protection of peatland forests in Kuala Langat and to not allow for any activity that fails to maintain this status either within or surrounding the forests. Why is the Selangor state government not carrying this out?
The Selangor state government’s ongoing failure to carry out its commitment to sustainable development is seen in the recent statement by the Selangor Tourism, Environment, Green Technology and Orang Asli Affairs Committee chairperson Hee Loy Sian:
“Kita cadang untuk keluarkan permit penggunaan hutan buat mereka yang berminat menjalankan tanaman pertanian seperti kontan dan sebagainya dengan menggunakan teknologi lebih canggih.”
This statement is testimony to the failure of the Selangor state government in overcoming the problem of encroachment and fires in the area, and we want to condemn this before it becomes a precedent for future programmes.
While issuing a land use permit for agricultural use does not involve degazettement, this will result in permanent damage to the protected forests when there is increased development pressure surrounding it. The Selangor state government must increase efforts to ensure the peatlands forests remain protected and to prohibit initiatives that will result in development in forests or at its borders.
Fires in the Kuala Langat forest reserves are known to occur and years of training and practice in community–based fire prevention programmes have been deployed, with a high success rate of forest restoration (including hydrology management) in Hutan Simpan Kuala Langat Utara. There is no need to consider allowing for other activities such as farming as means to curb fire incidents as mentioned by Hee.
Peatlands are important hydrological systems, home to diverse flora and fauna and home to the indigenous people for them to practice their cultural rights. There should not be any alternative development in or near the forests.
We demand the Selangor state government put a stop to further delays in carrying out the rakyat’s mandate to protect our forests. We demand accountability and adherence to the goals of sustainable development.
The Selangor state government must carry out its commitment to protect and preserve forests in Selangor immediately, and this includes withdrawing the proposal to degazette Hutan Simpan Kuala Langat Utara at once and to stop encroachment at forest borders.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
