THE Selangor government is asking for trouble by de-gazatting and developing the Kuala Langat North Forest Reserve (KLNFR), said environmental activists.

Ecoknights vice-president Amlir Ayat told The Malaysian Insight such a move would benefit no one except the investors.

“This issue has been ongoing. The state government wants to de-gazette the forest reserve so they can develop the area. This will only benefit the ‘big towkay’ and no one else,” he said, using the colloquial term for boss.

“The state government must not de-gazette the area. It has a very unique biodiversity and can help reduce climate change.”

He said it is also important to note that the land is unsuitable for development.

“The peatlands are too soft and it won’t hold heavy piling and concrete.”

More than 40ha of forest in Kuala Langat forest is currently on fire due to parched and windy weather.

A village chief who lives nearby said fires are annual affairs at KLNFR during the dry and hot season.

“Since 1996 if I am not mistaken, there have been numerous forest fires here and it has affected the livelihoods of the Orang Asli,” said Tok Batin Raman.

A group of 15 NGOs recently warned the Selangor government not to use the fire as an excuse to de-gazette the forest reserve.

The group opposed the state government’s plans to cut down 931ha of peat swamp forest bordering Cyberjaya, Putrajaya, Putra Heights and the Kuala Lumpur International Airport to make way for “mixed development”.

The state announced its proposal to de-gazette KLNFR on February 5 last year. Stakeholders in the district were invited to give their feedback.

The Save Kuala Langat Hutan Simpan group said fire-fighting efforts are ongoing and measures have been taken to restore the fire ravaged-forest and prevent future blazes.

“We reiterate our demand for the Selangor government to withdraw the proposal to de-gazette KLNFR as a forest reserve, and we would like to refute and reject the previous statement issued by the Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari that the area is degraded because 40% of it was previously destroyed by forest fire.

“Fire in any forest reserve should not be a reason to degazette the forest, but rather a reason for more fire protection systems. This is to ensure the forest remains protected and preserved for future generations,” 

Amlir meanwhile said the Orang Asli community will be greatly affected should they lose the Kuala Langat forest reserve to development.

“Where will they go? As human beings they deserve to be respected and the state government should respect the community.

“I have been to the village and I can say that it is very well organised and also very clean,” he added.

Children sickened

Raman said many children have fallen ill due to the smoke in the air..

“Our children are sick because of the fire and heavy smoke.

“We do not know the origin of the fire, whether it has been deliberately set or because of the weather but the kids are feeling the effects.

“Some families have also lost their incomes. Many families here rely on woodcraft as their main income,” he stated.

The village chief was angry that the Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) had failed to assist the community during the fire.

“They should be more concerned about us and assisting us in these trying times. The state government does not care about us, the Orang Asli department shows no interest,” he said.

He said about 180 Orang Asli live in the forest reserve.

“Some 102 people live in the Pulau Kempas village and about 80 people in Bukit Cedding.”

Almost 2,000 Temuan people living on their ancestral land will be displaced should the state go ahead with its development plan.

Malaysia is signatory to the United National Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which prohibits the forcible removal of indigenous people from their land.

More than 45,000 objection letters to the proposal have been sent.

KLNFR is also home to endangered animals such as the Malayan sun bear, Selangor pygmy flying squirrel and Langat red fighting fish. – March 8, 2021.