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Encroachment and illegal clearing in Bukit Merah Lake Reserve, Kerian district, Perak

  • Publication Date | June 5, 2016
  • Document Type | Media Statement
  • Programmes | Development & Planning
  • Issues | Forest Conversions, Planning
  • Tags | Bukit Merah Lake Reserve, DID, Encroachment, Excision, Perak
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Peat forest illegally cleared and drained out at Bukit Merah Lake Reserve | SAM
Peat forest illegally cleared and drained out at Bukit Merah Lake Reserve | SAM

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) and environmental groups comprising of CAP, KUASA, PEKA and GRASS urge the relevant authorities to take action against anyone found to encroach and illegally clear the forests in the Bukit Merah Lake Reserve in the district of Kerian, Perak.

Fifteen years ago, SAM had found that a portion of the Bukit Merah Lake Reserve had been encroached and illegally converted for cultivation of oil palm. Presently the situation here is getting worse. 

Bukit Merah Lake Reserve encroached and destroyed | SAM

The illegal clearing and encroachment of the Bukit Merah Lake Reserve bring about environmental impacts that may lead to the decline in water level in the Bukit Merah Lake which will subsequently affect the granary area in Kerian District, Perak and south of Seberang Perai, Penang covering about 24,000 hectares of paddy fields. 

In fact the water supply from the Bukit Merah Lake is also used for industry and domestic purpose for 200,000 users in Kerian District, part of Larut Matang and Selama, Perak.  CAP had previously highlighted pilfering of water from irrigation canals and opposed the use of water from the lake for the controversial arowana breeding ventures which saw conversion of paddy fields in Kerian District. 

The Bukit Merah Lake Reserve is not only important as source of water but also plays a role in flood control because a large portion of the reserve is wetland and lowland that are floodplains. 

In November 2011, media statements were issued by the concerned authorities to clarify the issues that were highlighted by SAM.  There were conflicting statements by the Kerian District Officer and the Kerian District Engineer of the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID). 

According to the Kerian District Officer quoted in Adu@metro in Harian Metro dated 29 November 2011, the State Government through the Kerian District and Land Office will implement Rancangan Tanah Berkelompok (RTB) project in Pondok Tanjung nearby the Bukit Merah Lake. 

SAM and other NGOs at a press conference in Bukit Merah | SAM

On the other hand the Kerian DID District Engineer stated that the department has never supported nor given approval for any development in the Bukit Merah Lake Reserve to ensure the Bukit Merah Lake ecosystem is protected and its functions are not impaired. Moreover the DID clarified that the department has no authority to prevent any encroachment or illegal clearing although the department is responsible for the lake and river maintenance and operation.   

Based on the sheet plan produced by the Department of Survey and Mapping Malaysia: No 377; – (GN 3319 of 1914, GN 1453 of 1919 and GN 8279 of 1929 excision), this area is gazetted as the Bukit Merah Lake Reserve. 

In fact according to the Kerian District Local Plan, the area is part of a water catchment area.  

The exploitation of the Bukit Merah Lake Reserve clearly does not comply with the  Guidelines on Planning, Conservation and Development in Environmentally Sensitive Areas prepared by the Town and Country Planning Department (refer to  GP007-A(2) – Flood Plains, Wetlands, Ex-Mines, Lakes and River and GP007-A(3) – Water Catchment  and Groundwater Source). 

The exploitation and destruction of the Bukit Merah Lake Reserve (conversion from forest and terrestrial natural areas to other land use) clearly exposes the soil surface to run-offs during heavy rain.  This will cause siltation, sedimentation at the bottom of the Bukit Merah Lake.   

Hence we hope that the relevant authorities enforce the law related to unlawful occupation of  State land and reserved land as stipulated in Section 425 of the National Land Code, 1965.   

The relevant authorities, both in the district and state level must refer and comply existing policies and physical plans when implementing any development, in particular those involving land-use conversion.  

In the interest of environmental protection and security of water supply, we urge an immediate stop of the exploitation and land conversion in the Bukit Merah Lake Reserve. The devastated areas should be rehabilitated with planting of suitable species of forest trees. 

S.M. MOHAMED IDRIS

President 

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Testimonials

Sahabat Alam Malaysia adalah satu badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) yang telah sekian lama berjuang mempertahan kelestarian alam. Ia juga mendidik masyarakat tentang pentingnya kebersamaan dalam pemikiran dan tindakan agar alam ini dapat kita wariskan kepada generasi hadapan dalam keadaan yang elok dan terpelihara. Dalam pada itu juga SAM giat membantu golongan nelayan pantai dalam memperjuangkan hak-hak mereka sehinggalah tertubuhnya Persatuan Pendidikan dan Kebajikan Nelayan Pantai Malaysia (JARING). Nelayan pantai sepenuh masa ini dididik oleh SAM sehingga mereka mampu memainkan peranan sebagai pemimpin nelayan yang meneruskan kesinambungan memperjuangkan hak-hak nelayan pantai lainnya. Sebagai contoh SAM telah berjaya menyedarkan masyarakat nelayan keperluan menjaga hutan paya bakau untuk kebaikan hasil tangkapan nelayan itu sendiri.
Jamaluddin Mohamad Bualik
Jamaluddin Mohamad BualikPersatuan Pendidikan dan Kebajikan Jaringan Nelayan Pantai Malaysia (JARING)
During the 1980s, I used to read about the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) in the news. After retirement, some time in 2001, while lazing around, I read news about the construction of a carbon in leach plant using sodium cyanide to extract gold in Bukit Koman. My friends and I visited CAP and we were introduced to SAM and her legal team. We discussed the details of filing a case against the gold mining company and the department of environment with Ms Meenakshi Raman and her legal team. That was the beginning of a beautiful friendship between lawyers from SAM and many of us from Bukit Koman. We had many ups and downs in our struggle to shut down the gold mine that was causing a nuisance in our village. But, as a community we never gave up because SAM had our backs.
Hue Fui How
Hue Fui HowSecretary, Bukit Koman Ban Cyanide in Goldmining Action Committee (BCAC)
Sahabat Alam Malaysia adalah sebuah NGO yang memperjuangkan nasib masyarakat luar bandar khasnya. SAM menerima aduan-aduan masyarakat dan menyelesaikan masalah yang dihadapi. SAM telah mewujudkan ramai aktivis-aktivis sosial dan alam sekitar. Pada era 1980 dan 90an SAM sangat dihormati oleh masyarakat dan agensi kerajaan. Apabila media sosial menguasai maklumat maka SAM pun terkesan dan masalah masyarakat terus disalurkan dengan pelbagai cara. SAM perlu mewujudkan aktivis-aktivis pelapis yang muda untuk terus membantu masyarakat. SAM juga perlu membuat perubahan supaya banyak turun kelapangan dan jangan mengharapkan laporan media sahaja. Tingkatkan prestasi sebagaimana pada zaman kegemilangan SAM di era 80-90an.
Che Ani Mt Zain
Che Ani Mt Zain
SAM taught me the importance of social activism and the role it plays in upholding the rights of people and the protection of the environment. In my experience, SAM has never hesitated to speak up in defence of people and their environment, and has gone the extra mile to champion their rights, by helping communities take their battles to the higher ups and even to the courts.
Jessica Binwani
Jessica BinwaniPublic/Private Interest Lawyer
Semenjak kami kenal SAM, banyak pengalaman dan pengetahuan yg kami dapat. Kami telah belajar cara membuat baja asli daripada SAM. Semenjak itu, bermulalah minat kami dalam aktiviti pertanian. Dengan memperolehi kemahiran dalam membuat baja asli dan penanaman lestari, kami juga telah dapat menambahkan pendapatan sampingan kami. Ini lebih baik daripada tanah kami terbiar dan tidak diusahakan. Terima kasih SAM kerana sudi memberi bantuan dan tunjuk ajar kepada Persatuan kami.
Chedo Anak Nyuwen
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My journey with SAM started when her community organisers took me to the meet the paddy farmers of Kedah, connecting my growing interest in environmental law with our people who struggle to work the land in the face of pollution, replacement of traditional seeds with commercial hybrids and their accompanying chemical package of fertilisers and weedicides. I then had the honour to work with SAM in the struggle for the rights of the native communities of Sarawak, in defence of their forests from massive logging and destructive mega-projects. In every issue that SAM takes up, she combines rigorous research with the realities and voices of the communities to advocate for policies and laws that care for people and nature. From the courts to the elected legislators to policy makers and implementers and to the United Nations, SAM walks side by side with the communities in Malaysia. How can I not be inspired by the vision and passion of the generations of women and men who coalesce to form SAM?
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Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Headquarters)
No. 1, Jalan Joki, 11400 Penang,
Malaysia
Tel: +604 827 6930
Fax: +604 827 6932

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Marudi Office)
129A, First Floor,
Jalan Tuanku Taha,
P.O.Box 216,
98058 Marudi, Baram, Sarawak,
Malaysia
Tel & Fax: +6085 758 973

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