NATURAL disasters in the country will only get worse if the authorities allow forest degazettement to continue in the name of development, warned environmental group Pelindung Khazanah Alam Malaysia (Peka).

Its president Dr Shariffa Sabrina Syed Akil said if forest degazettement plans are not stopped, the country will experience more floods, landslides and lack of clean water, as seen in several states that were flooded this month, leaving residents homeless, with no access to clean water.

She said the floods are largely due to the ongoing logging and mining works.

“Peka Malaysia is deeply saddened by the flood situation in the states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Perak and Johor, which has worsened from year to year, from the normal monsoon season to the non-monsoon season,” Shariffa said in a statement.

She said it is visible the flood-hit areas are getting bigger and have now reached unprecedented levels.

Shariffa added that environmental damage will continue to occur if authorities do not have the awareness to stop all these activities without controlling Land and Forest Reserves agricultural openings in the Environmentally Sensitive Area 1 (KSAS 1), which is 700m above sea level.

“This will inevitably worsen the environment with heavier downpour of rain distribution and also adds to the suffering of the people who have already suffered from the Covid-19 pandemic,” she said.

Peka had submitted proposed amendments to the federal constitution and National Forestry Act 1984to the government in 2019 to help preserve the country’s natural rainforests and wildlife habitats.

The proposals, however, fell on deaf ears.

Peka is now appealing to the government for a second time to impose a moratorium on logging and mining as well as to initiate the restoration of forests, upland, coastal and ecosystems.

“Now, considering the ever-increasing flood and landslide situation, Peka is taking a very serious stand and aims to issue immediate demands, not only to our government but also to Malaysians.

“We also call for amendments to the constitutional and forestry laws proposed by Peka in 2019, to be tabled as soon as possible.”

The group has also sent a letter of appeal to Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and also submitted a petition for constitutional and legal amendments to the Federal Development and Forestry Act 1984. – January 18, 2021.