Putrajaya must intervene and save the Pulau Kukup forest in Johor from any potential harm, says lawyer N Surendran.

"We strongly urge the prime minister and the federal government to intervene now to save Pulau Kukup.

"The Pakatan Harapan federal government cannot simply stand by and watch an internationally recognised natural treasure of Malaysia to be compromised or destroyed; the de-gazetting reflects ill upon Harapan as a whole.

"Even though land is a state matter, the federal government has adequate legal powers to intervene and protect any area which qualifies as a place of natural heritage," Surendran said in a statement today.

Yesterday, Malaysiakini reported that the Johor state government had de-gazetted Pulau Kukup as a fully protected national park.

The decision was arrived to during a state cabinet meeting on Sept 24. The notice on de-gazetting the heritage site, which Malaysiakini cited, was published on Oct 25.

Future plans for Pulau Kukup remain unknown.

Surendran (photo) demanded that the Johor Harapan government explain why it had de-gazetted the forest.

"What was the purpose of doing so? Who will profit or benefit from the de-gazetting of Pulau Kukup? Is it now intended to destroy the natural habitat and develop the area?

"Having long criticised the BN for greedy environmental destruction, it is simply inexcusable for a Harapan state government to be doing such a thing," he said.

Pulau Kukup is mostly uninhabited and is renowned for its mangrove forests.

It is one of the few remaining pristine wetlands in Southeast Asia and is one of five Ramsar sites in Malaysia.

Ramsar sites are wetland sites designated to be of international importance under the United Nation's Convention on Wetlands.

According to the Johor National Parks Corporation website, Pulau Kukup plays host to endangered animals such as the flying fox, smooth otter, bearded pig and long-tailed macaque.