THE Pahang State Parks Corporation Enactment 2021 is sloppily drafted and prioritises commercial benefits more than environmental conservation, Tanah Rata assemblyman Chiong Yoke Kong said.

The bill to regulate the state’s natural parks was also “forcibly passed” on August 25 without consultation with stakeholders, while lacking a clear statement on the purpose of establishing a state park corporation.

“The bill not only lacks the fundamental principles and spirit of the legislation but also reeks of commercial purposes,” Chiong said in a statement today.

This is reflected in the wording of the bill, which is skewed towards commercial purposes.

“The basic principles and spirit of the legislation were flawed, and… the government did not solicit opinions from relevant environmental organisations.

“The state parks corporation to be established by this commercial bill does not put protecting the natural ecology as its top priority.”

Chiong compared the new enactment with the National Park (Johor) Corporation Enactment 1989, which he said had a clearly stated purpose, namely the conservation and the management of wildlife and natural resources.

In contrast, the Pahang State Parks Corporation Enactment only spells out the establishment of the corporation.

In the section on the corporation’s responsibilities, words such as development, promotion, commercial activities, and industrialisation, are frequently used.

The enactment also empowers the state parks corporation to collaborate with any organisation in contracts, agreements, or business activities.

“This law actually opens the door for various interest groups to unscrupulously exploit and forcibly seize Pahang’s natural resources. With this new law in place, the possible consequences can be disastrous,” Chiong said.

He urged the Pahang government to consult environmental organisations for their opinions on the enactment to rectify weaknesses in this bill.

Pahang state tourism, culture, environment, plantation and commodities committee exco Mohd Sharkar Shamsudin defended the enactment on social media after it was passed.

In an August 27 post on Facebook, he said the enactment was needed to oversee the national parks and biodiversity in the state.

“With so many forest areas, mountains, rivers and lakes, it is difficult for just the Pahang Forestry department to oversee all these areas.

“Which is why we need to hand it over to the private sector and operators who are well versed in these areas,” he said.

The corporation will integrate and standardise the regulations of the Endau Rompin National Park, while also allowing it to take over 145 natural scenic spots in Pahang and increase revenue from these places. – September 7, 2021.