Let Pulau Kukup revert to national park, Muhyiddin appeals to Johor sultan

Chan Kok Leong Chan Kok Leong Updated 7 years ago · Published on 11 Dec 2018 1:40PM · 7 Comments

Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin says Pulau Kukup is one of the most beautiful islands and the state has done a good job taking care of it. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, December 11, 2018.

FORMER Johor menteri besar Muhyiddin Yassin has weighed in on the debate surrounding Pulau Kukup by appealing to the state royalty to allow the mangrove reserve to revert to its national-park status.

“It would be better for Pulau Kukup to remain as a state park as people would be able to enter without seeking approvals from any person,” said Muhyiddin at the Bersatu head office in Petaling Jaya today.

“I appeal to the sultan to let it go back to what it was before. People can say it’s the same but it’s not the same.

“Before it was de-gazetted, any party can go in without seeking approval from certain persons,” said Muhyiddin, who said he was angry when he heard about the de-gazetting.

While parties, such as Tunku Mahkota Johor Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, have promised to maintain it as a park, the ownership of the land would no longer be government-owned and maintained.

“Being a Johorean and former MB, the State Park Enactment was enacted during my time. It was done so that all the mountains and islands, including Pulau Kukup, would remain as state parks as long as there is the sun and the moon,” said Muhyiddin, who served as menteri besar from 1986-1995.

“At the same time, the Johor National Park Corporation was started in 1997 to manage the state parks,” he said.

He said Pulau Kukup is one of the most beautiful islands, adding that it is a mangrove swamp and a Ramsar site, and was being managed well by the Johor National Park Corporation and hence there was no reason to change the status of the land.

 “This is my personal view and being a Johorean, I’m not an outsider,” said the Bersatu president.

The status of Pulau Kukup has been a hot-button issue following Johor’s decision to de-gazette the island as a national park and re-designate it as “sultanate land”, handing over the island to the sultan of Johor.

On Friday, the cabinet agreed that Pulau Kukup should remain a national park. – December 11, 2018.  

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Comments

  • Sad that TMJ wants this land grab, Give it back, dont be openly unscrupulous, give it back.

    Posted 7 years ago by Alphonz Jayaraman · Reply

  • Well said Home Minister.

    Posted 7 years ago by Lipdah Lia · Reply

  • Well said Tan Sri... we , Johorean salute you

    Posted 7 years ago by Zainal - · Reply

  • Tan Sri you said from your heart. I have always held you in high esteem.

    Posted 7 years ago by Dato Radha · Reply

  • Tan Sri has been our good MB of Johor and is still good.

    Posted 7 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • Stop the hypocritic diplomacy and appeal. The land Is Malaysia. Federal government has the right to do so on decision. Go ahaed finalise it . the rakayt gives the blessing and authority to the Federal government. The insolent man has got to be educated on manners and not displaying his royal might in pushing and ordering for things to be done. No body bows to him if he is still having that thoughts that the rakyat are subservient to royal might. If he is still adamant in his actions put a survey and see whether Johorean support him ( as what he has falsely believe ) on his land grab.

    Posted 7 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • Tan Sri , I am proud of you . You have the guts to be frank when you know something is not right, just like you told Najib off . This is nothing but Land Grab for personal interest.

    Posted 7 years ago by Tiong Fee Chua · Reply