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Friends of Ulu Muda (FOUM) urge the Kedah State Government to prioritise conservation and protection of Ulu Muda Forests and develop other sustainable sources of revenue

  • Publication Date | June 8, 2020
  • Document Type | Media Statement
  • Programmes | Forests & Biodiversity
  • Issues | Biodiversity, Conservation, Logging, Wildlife
  • Tags | FoUM, Sustainable Solutions, Ulu Muda, Water Catchment
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Sahabat Alam Malaysia - Ulu Muda

Friends of Ulu Muda (FOUM) is a coalition of organisations and individuals working to protect the 160,000 ha Greater Ulu Muda Forest. This forest plays an important role in supporting the livelihood and well-being of the people of Perlis, Penang and Kedah. It is an irreplaceable part of Malaysian and world natural heritage.

FOUM supports the conservation and protection of the Greater Ulu Muda Forest. Recently, the State government of Kedah announced to the media their intention to continue logging to avoid legal claims from 40 logging companies amounting to RM1.5 billion. This statement has raised much concern among FOUM and the public.

The true value of the Greater Ulu Muda Forest is much greater than RM1.5 billion, in terms of its socioeconomic value and its role in preserving the identity and heritage of Kedah and surrounding regions, as we elaborate below.

The forest is key to the prosperity of the Northern region of Peninsular Malaysia as it supplies water to support agriculture, industry, tourism and households. The Muda, Pedu and Ahning dams regulate the supply of water for 4.2 million people and support economic activities that together bring an estimated annual revenue of RM150.5 billion to Kedah, Perlis and Penang (see statement issued by Dato’ Ir. Jaseni Maidinsa from PBA Holdings Bhd).

Irrigation with water from the Greater Ulu Muda Forest enables double cropping in the paddy fields of Kedah and Perlis which contribute up to 50 percent of the nation’s rice production. In view of the Covid-19 crisis and the resulting disruption of rice imports, Kedah can play a vital role in strengthening Malaysia’s food security. However, the destruction of the Ulu Muda forest may jeopardise paddy production and the livelihoods of 48,500 farmers.

Greater Ulu Muda Forest harbours priceless beauty and important biodiversity. It is home to many threatened wildlife species such as the Asian elephant, Malayan sun bear, Malayan tapir, Malayan pangolin, agile gibbon, hairy-nosed otter, clouded leopard, sambar deer, and well over 320 species of birds.  It is one of only two sites in Malaysia where all ten species of Malaysian hornbills can be found. Ulu Muda is a viable tiger habitat recently surveyed in the National Tiger Survey. It was formerly home to the Javan rhinoceros, Banteng and Sumatran rhinoceros but no longer. Furthermore, the Greater Ulu Muda Forest plays an important role as a carbon sink and in increasing the resilience of the nation against climate change.

FOUM understands that protecting the Greater Ulu Muda Forest and securing the State’s income is a challenging task. FOUM believes that sustainable financing mechanisms such as Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES), coupled with heightened commitment and accountability, are appropriate steps moving forward as they would enable the Kedah State Government to earn sustainable revenue in the long term from ecosystem services that the Greater Ulu Muda Forest provides. Funds may also be sought from international agencies, the Federal Government, and other parties to support the Kedah State Government in its efforts to protect the area while maintaining a source of revenue for the state.  

FOUM hopes the Kedah State Government will prioritise the protection of the greater Ulu Muda forest, considering the wellbeing of the rakyat, State and environment. Our members are ready to offer support in terms of technical expertise and advice on the development of a sustainable and environment-friendly plan to protect the Greater Ulu Muda Forest and help support the post-Covid 19 recovery in the region.

_________________________________________

Friends of Ulu Muda

Friends of Ulu Muda is a coalition of nature conservation organizations advocating for the protection and wise management of the Ulu Muda forest which is an irreplaceable part of Malaysia’s biodiversity heritage. Since its establishment in 2003, its members have worked to document and raise awareness of the diversity and importance of the Greater Ulu Muda forest landscape and engage state and federal governments and relevant stakeholders in exploring strategies for its conservation and effective management.

For more information and media inquiries, kindly contact us at:-

Friends of Ulu Muda Secretariat

c/o Consumers’ Association of Penang

10, Jln Masjid Negeri

11600 PULAU PINANG

 Tel: +604 829 9511 

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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 - Member of Friends of the Earth International
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Sahabat Alam Malaysia
Sahabat Alam Malaysia - Member of Friends of the Earth International

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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