Barely 48 hours after being sworn in, the country's first Natural Resources and Environment Minister Adenan Satem came under the crosshairs of an environment group.

The Penang-based Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) found cause for concern over his statement published yesterday that the ministry would seek to create more wealth for the country through exploration and exploitation of natural resources, particularly the peat swamps of Sabah and Sarawak.

"We view with extreme caution the statement...SAM wishes to bring to the attention of the minister that...Malaysia has yet to do enough for environmental protection."

"While we appreciate the Minister's approach in wanting to strike a balance between the exploitation of our natural resources and environmental protection...the so-called balance has not been achieved. What has instead resulted is a gross imbalance against environmental protection," it said in a press statement yesterday.

'Extremely concerned'

SAM said it was "extremely concerned" by Adenan's intention to develop and convert more peat swamp land in Sarawak for other uses, as the move may bring about forest fires as often experienced in Indonesia.

"The Sarawak government, in converting its peat swap forests, is compromising on environmental sustainability," it added.

Sarawak has the largest reserve of peat swamp forests, which experts say play a critical ecological role in flood mitigation, regulation of water supply, and maintaining forest nutrient cycle.

The draining of these forests for development purposes can lead the soil to combust easily and pose a fire hazard.

No protection

SAM also noted that there hasn't been "enough appreciation at the government level" of the immense value of the nation's natural ecosystems in preserving biodiversity.

It added that only 10 percent of forests were currently protected.

"Although it is claimed that Malaysia has a forest cover of about 59 percent, much of this is set aside for 'productive' purposes and are not protected.

"It is high time that the federal government find appropriate financial mechanisms to encourage states to protect, conserve and rehabilitate their natural resources...and this is where the natural resources and environment ministry can play a vital role (in) environmental protection and conservation, rather than further exploitation in the name of short-term wealth generation."

The environment group said it would be more than willing to support the government in this respect.

Adenan, who took his oath of office on Tuesday, was the former Sarawak agriculture and food minister.