21 February 2020

Selangor State Govt’s degazetting of the Kuala Langat North Forest Reserve unacceptable; Communications & Multimedia Minister must answer on alleged gag-order

A few days ago, we saw in the news that the Selangor State Government had decided to degazette 970 hectares of the Kuala Langat North Forest Reserve. That means just 2% of the original forest reserve will be left.

This is most unacceptable, and is an affront to all Malaysians regardless of politics. Lest we forget, the Buku Harapan had pledged in Promise 39 that PH will ‘balance economic growth with environmental protection’. 

Academics and conservationists have both pointed out how important the Kuala Langat North Forest Reserve is. It is home to many endangered species, and according to the Global Environment Centre is actually an important water catchment area. We Selangorians understand how important water catchment areas are, as we frequently experience water shortages including abrupt, unannounced water cuts.

But most devastating of all is the impact on the Temuan people of Kuala Langat. The Temuan people are an Orang Asli group who have inhabited the area since time immemorial. 7 settlements may be impacted by the degazetting move. The forest was gazetted by the British as customary lands in 1927. The Temuan may soon be forced out of their ancestral dwellings; this is directly contrary to Promise 38 of the Buku Harapan which pledged to advance the interests of the Orang Asal in Peninsular Malaysia, respect their cemetery and ancestral lands, and ensure that they get better protection in land development schemes.

But the Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari is indignant on going forward with the degazetting. He has gone before the press making ridiculous claims that the degazetting is justified because some parts of the forest reserve was “no longer virgin”, and that the clearing of the forest will prevent forest fires. He is in effect insulting the intelligence of the people of Selangor

The MB has even slammed members of his own coalition. Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar was condemned by the MB for raising opposition to the degazetting. Dr Xavier has every right to be concerned as this is happening in his own constituency of Kuala Langat.

Why are social media posts on the degazette suddenly vanishing?

It has been reported by many netizens that their posts discussing the degazetting exercise on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter has been deleted automatically. It is unclear whether this is due to a glitch, or whether there is an army of media specialists scouting Malaysian social media and reporting any post that mentions the Kuala Langat North Forest Reserve.

Either way, this is most suspicious, and the Minister of Communications and Multimedia must answer whether his ministry is involved in gagging any discussions of the Kuala Langat North Forest Reserve on social media, and if not, whether the MCMC (Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission) is going to look into this.

I therefore urge the MB of Selangor to reconsider his position and adhere to PH’s election manifesto. As for the people of Selangor, I urge all those concerned about the degazetting to write to the Pengarah Jabatan Perhutanan Negeri Selangor and voice your objections before 6 March 2020.

Dato’ Ng Chok Sin

MCA Selangor State Liaison Committee Chairman

-MCA online-