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Environmental conservation in the State of Perak is disappointing

  • Publication Date | May 3, 2018
  • Document Type | Media Statement
  • Programmes | Forests & Biodiversity
  • Issues | Biodiversity, Conservation, Logging, Plantations, Urban Development, Waste, Wildlife
  • Tags | forest plantations, Perak, Permanent Reserved Forest, PRF
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Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) is disappointed with the authorities for falling short on environmental conservation efforts in Perak . Over the last few years, SAM had oft-times come across environmental issues and conflicts in the state of Perak.

The environmental issues and conflicts are contrary to the commitment expressed by the authorities to conserve the environment and develop the state sustainably. Among the issues and environmental conflicts that arise include the following three clusters, namely forestry and natural protected areas; solid waste; and urban and regional planning.

Forestry and Natural Protected Areas

  • Excised part of Tanjung Hantu Forest Reserve (HS Tanjung Hantu) which was classified as Virgin Jungle Forest (VJR), turtle landing area and was also categorized as Environmentally Sensitive Area Rank 1, covering 56.06 hectares on 13 October 2011 for industrial purposes (LNG plant).
  • Excised the entire Bikam Forest Reserve (HS Bikam) which is a habitat for a Critically Endangered (CR) species, Dipterocarpus coriaceus plant, listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). On May 29 2013, an area covering 495.5ha was excised for agricultural purposes (cultivation of oil palm).
  • In relation to the threatened critical species (CR) under the IUCN i.e. Keruing paya (Dipterocarpus coriaceus), we are concerned that another habitat of the species has been destroyed when part of the Chikus Forest Reserve (HS Chikus) covering an area of 663ha was excised on February 2, 2017 for agricultural purposes.
  • Excised the entire Chior Wildlife Reserve (RHL Chior) which is the first Wildlife Reserve / protection area for big game established in Malaysia. RHL Chior is also a major habitat for large mammals especially elephants. The excision covering an area of 692.7ha on July 31, 2014 was for agricultural purposes (development of oil palm plantation).
  • Changed the land-use of forest in the Permanent Reserved Forest (HSK) area for quarrying of granite. One of the cases is in Compartments 13, 14, 15 and 16 of Segari Melintang Forest Reserve (HS Segari Melintang) covering 80ha in 2017. The approval for quarrying in the HSK area is contradictory and does not comply with the resolution of the 70th Meeting of the National Land Council (Majlis Tanah Negara – MTN). The MTN had recommended that all State Governments take initiatives to control or if possible to avoid any approval of mining and quarrying activities in HSK. This is because mining and quarrying activities in HSK will directly affect the attainment of sustainable forest management that is central to the management of the nation’s forests.
  • The turtle landing area in Segari is still not gazetted as a protected area (PA) but has been approved as an industrial area (iron and steel mills) and sand extraction area.
  • The landing area for river terrapin (tuntung) in Bota is still not gazetted as PA and raises concern due to its proximity to several areas of river sand extraction.
  • No areas covered by limestone forest are gazetted as HSK or protected areas. There is a habitat for a threatened critical species (CR) under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species i.e. Hopea bilitonensis tree at Gunung Gajah and Gunung Tempurung, Gopeng. While in the limestone hill caves there is a habitat of a rare spider, Liphistius kanthan, which is known as living fossil. The spider has a segmented abdomen and does not resemble modern spiders.
  • The HSK’s total land area in Perak in 2015 of 997,623.86ha decreased to 997,604.12ha in 2016. This is contrary to one of the main Corporate Strategies of the State Forestry Department i.e: Maintaining the area of existing Permanent Reserved Forest and increasing its breadth.

Solid Waste

  • The ban on polystyrene food containers and plastic bags has yet to be implemented and enforced in the state of Perak. The ban was supposed to be implemented in June 2017.
  • Continued the operation of solid waste disposal site at Teluk Mengkudu, Segari although the Department of Environment did not approve the Environmental Impact Assessment (DEIA) Report. The landfill is located within an Environmentally Sensitive Area.
  • Management and collection of solid waste is still unsatisfactory especially in the rural areas where waste can be found dumped indiscriminately.

Urban and regional planning

  • Changed zoning and land-use from tourism and natural areas (forest) e.g. part of Teluk Muroh Forest Reserve (HS Teluk Muroh) to industrial zone on 19 November 2009.
  • Excised HSK area in Piah Forest Reserve (HS Piah) and Korbu Forest Reserve (HS Korbu) before holding public hearing session of the Kuala Kangsar Local
  • Current land-use/zone map and land-use information in physical planning documents, namely the Ipoh Local Plan and Perak State Structure Plan do not state and indicate that there is a radioactive waste site in Lahat.

SAM hopes that actions will be taken on the issues and conflicts listed above as per the commitment made by the Perak State Authority for the well-being of the environment in the state.

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.
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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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