PKR hopes the Selangor government will take appropriate actions that are in line with the party’s policy to preserve and protect the environment and forest reserves, party president Anwar Ibrahim said today.

According to Anwar, Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari had recently briefed PKR on the state’s controversial plan to de-gazette the Kuala Langat North Forest Reserve (KLNFR) for mixed commercial development.

“Two days after that, Amirudin had also met me to discuss the matter,” Anwar said.

So far, Amirudin has not announced any intent to scrap the plan.

Last week, PKR summoned Amirudin to explain the plan, following which the party said the menteri besar had agreed to postpone it.

PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil had said the plan would be held off until the state government had completed its consideration and clarification on the issues raised.

Fahmi also said that the PKR political bureau had received an assurance by Amirudin and state environment committee chairman Hee Loy Sian to this effect.

Selangor Pakatan Harapan then issued a statement that the state executive council would review the proposal to de-gazette the forest reserve at a meeting this week.

The state government de-gazetted half the forest reserve in May but only revealed it to the public at the state assembly meeting on August 30.

The news shocked environmental groups and PH legislators as the assembly had unanimously voted last November not to de-gazette the forest reserve.

More than 40,000 public objections have also been filed with the state government to protest the project. – September 6, 2021.