SAM seeks clarification regarding gazettement of two forest reserves and excision of Ijok Forest Reserve – a water catchment forest

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Sahabat Alam Malaysia - Forests and biodiversity

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) refers to the statement by the YAB Menteri Besar of Perak at the State Legislative Assembly on 9 December 2014, as published in a number of local dailies.

The YAB Menteri Besar was quoted as saying that the State Authority has approved the gazettement of several Permanent Reserved Forests (PRF) since 2010 until now. However, questions arise and SAM would like to seek clarification with regards two areas gazetted as Permanent Reserved Forests (PRF), i.e.Teluk Muroh Forest Reserve and Piah Forest Reserve. 

Both areas have long been gazetted as PRF. Teluk Muroh Forest Reserve’s date of gazettement was 28 October 1948 whilst Piah Forest Reserve was gazetted on29 January 1915, but both forest reserves have been partly excised several times. 

Based on references and documentation, part of Teluk Muroh Forest Reserve was re-gazetted on 28 April 2004 (Gazette No: 746) covering 89.83 hectares but the State Executive Council had approved the excision of part of the forest reserve covering an area of 121.16 hectares on January 6, 2010. 

According the YAB Menteri Besar, Piah Forest Reserve was gazetted on 23 January 2013 but based on the State Gazette, part of the forest reserve covering 994 hectares was excised on 12 March 2014 (Gazette No: 601). 

The State Authority and Perak Forestry Department should also explain the excision on 2nd October 2014 (Gazette No: 2161) of the entire Ijok Forest Reserve which is a water catchment forest.According to the State Gazette, the Ijok Forest Reserve covering 293 hectares was classified as Water Catchment Forest [Section 10.(1)(e), National Forestry Act 1984 – Gazette No: 951]. 

YAB Menteri Besar stated that since 2006 until 30 October 2014, a total of 15,867 hectares of forest reserve was excised. This statement reinforces SAM’s previous statement that the State Authority has excised more than 10,000 hectares of permanent reserved forest since 21 May 2009 until now. 

SAM urges the State Authority and Perak Forestry Department to provide clarification on the issues raised. 

S.M. Mohamed Idris

President

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

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Headquarters)
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Malaysia
Tel: +604 827 6930
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