Stop all land development activities involving forest reserves: Wan Junaidi

PETALING JAYA: The government is calling for all land development activities in the country involving permanent reserved forest (PRF) to be halted immediately.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar (pix) said this was to maintain the role and contribution of PRF to the country's development, as well as conserving the biodiversity.
"I am urging all relevant parties to reconsider their development plans involving PRF.
"I would like to stress that the ministry and the Forestry Department Peninsular Malaysia does not encourage PRF land to be gazetted out or tendered for any land development projects, although the state authorities are entitled to do so, consistent with Section 11 of the National Forestry Act 1984," he said in a statement yesterday.
He said that in Kuala Lumpur alone, the total area of PRF land has been reduced to 68.27 hectares (ha) from 106.1ha (a reduction of 37.83ha), since they were first gazetted.
Kuala Lumpur is home to four PRFs, namely:
» Bukit Lagong PRF (which maintained its 2.1ha since gazetted in 1962);
» Bukit Nanas PRF (9.37ha remaining from 17ha since gazetted in 1906);
» Sg. Puteh PRF (14.51ha remaining from 40ha since gazetted in 1933);
» Sg. Besi PRF (42.29ha remaining from 47ha since gazetted in 1932).
Wan Junaidi said if required, the ministry, through the National Land Council, would seek the state authorities to reconsider their land development projects or take measures that would benefit the federal and state governments.
He also noted that if the state was persistent to continue with their projects, they are required to replace the land immediately in any part of the peninsular, in line with Section 12 of the act.
"We may suggest to the council to allow us to enforce laws that would require the states to gazette a replacement land first if any of the PRF land is needed for development," he said.
Malaysia's PRF has been under the spotlight in recent weeks with over 7,000 ha of forest reserves in Kelantan reported to be illegally exploited by syndicates, illegal logging suspected at Malacca forest reserves, and the Kuala Langat forest reserve catching fire.