PRIME Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he has no knowledge of a golf course built on the Sg Pulai forest reserve in Johor.

“I know nothing,” he told reporters in Sepang today when asked to comment on the matter.

There are reports that the Forest City Golf Resort is being constructed in Sg Pulai, Johor, once a mangrove forest, causing concerns among environmentalists and activists.

His remarks contradicted the statement made by Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Xavier Jayakumar, who had previously said the prime minister was “well aware” of the situation.

He was quoted as saying that Dr Mahathir had instructed the government to look into matter.

Xavier had also said the government can only express its dissatisfaction to the Johor state government over the matter.

Lawyers for Liberty adviser N. Surendran then hit out at Xavier over his statement and said the government’s hands are not tied as both the state and federal government are under Pakatan Harapan.

The Association for the Preservation of Natural Heritage (PEKA) said state authorities and developers should abide by the “precautionary principle” and be more prudent in decisions involving natural resources.

It added that the environmental impact of the project is significant. – March 17, 2019.