Selangor passes anti-forest degazetting law
Published: Apr 1, 2011 2:26 PM | Updated: Apr 1, 2011 3:49 PM
The Selangor state government passed a historic enactment today to ensure that no forest reserve can be degazetted without a public inquiry being held.
The Khalid Ibrahim administration passed the unprecedented amendment to the Section 11 Enactment (Application) Forestry Act 1985 in the state assembly this morning.
The state is the first in Malaysia to do this to ensure transparency in forest management efforts, says Wong.
The Selangor state government passed a historic enactment today to ensure that no forest reserve can be degazetted without a public inquiry being held.
The Khalid Ibrahim administration passed the unprecedented amendment to the Section 11 Enactment (Application) Forestry Act 1985 in the state assembly this morning.
This means that a public inquiry must be held before any forest reserve is degazetted.
"This is to ensure transparency in forest management efforts in Selangor, which happens to be the first state in the country to come up with such a progressive enactment,"a state government statement said.
During debate on the bill this morning, the state exco member in charge of tourism, consumer affairs and environment, Elizabeth Wong (above), told the legislators that the bill would empower the people of Selangor to give feedback on natural reserves.
"This should give them the power to provide feedback and suggestions on how to protect forest reserves that are constantly under threat from development, especially in prime areas.
"Since 2000 to 2007, thousands of hectares of forest reserves have been degazetted without public knowledge," said Wong, who added that the Kota Damansara forest reserve was degazetted several years ago to be developed into an upscale residential area.
"It was only when the Pakatan Rakyat government took over that the transfer (of the land) was cancelled."
The statement said public hearings would be advertised on billboards and newspapers early to ensure that residents and NGOs could give their opinions.
The Khalid Ibrahim administration passed the unprecedented amendment to the Section 11 Enactment (Application) Forestry Act 1985 in the state assembly this morning.
This means that a public inquiry must be held before any forest reserve is degazetted.
"This is to ensure transparency in forest management efforts in Selangor, which happens to be the first state in the country to come up with such a progressive enactment,"a state government statement said.During debate on the bill this morning, the state exco member in charge of tourism, consumer affairs and environment, Elizabeth Wong (above), told the legislators that the bill would empower the people of Selangor to give feedback on natural reserves.
"This should give them the power to provide feedback and suggestions on how to protect forest reserves that are constantly under threat from development, especially in prime areas.
"Since 2000 to 2007, thousands of hectares of forest reserves have been degazetted without public knowledge," said Wong, who added that the Kota Damansara forest reserve was degazetted several years ago to be developed into an upscale residential area.
"It was only when the Pakatan Rakyat government took over that the transfer (of the land) was cancelled."
The statement said public hearings would be advertised on billboards and newspapers early to ensure that residents and NGOs could give their opinions.
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