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SAM Supports Call for Protection of Ulu Muda Forest

  • Publication Date | March 9, 2017
  • Document Type | Media Statement
  • Programmes | Forests & Biodiversity
  • Issues | Biodiversity, Forest Conversions, Forest Degazetting, Logging, Water
  • Tags | Kedah, Penang, Perlis, Permanent Reserved Forest, PRF, Ulu Muda
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Low water level in Pedu Dam in August 2016 | SAM
Low water level in Pedu Dam in August 2016 | SAM

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) supports the call by Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang Sdn Bhd (PBAPP) for an immediate ban of logging in the Ulu Muda Forest Reserve and to gazette the forest reserve as a water catchment area. 

It was reported recently that the Kedah Forestry Department had issued a stop-work order to a company conducting logging activities in the Ulu Muda Forest Reserve in Sik after it was found to have breached conditions of its logging licence. Lately signboards indicating licence to take forest produce from several compartments in the Ulu Muda Forest Reserve have also been encountered.

The Greater Ulu Muda area consists of several forest reserves, the biggest of which is the Ulu Muda Forest Reserve. The Greater Ulu Muda forests play an important role as a water catchment area for the Ahning, Pedu and Muda dams which supply drinking water to Kedah (including Langkawi), Penang and Perlis.

Felling of trees near the Pedu dam | SAM

As much as 96% of Kedah’s, 80% of Penang’s and 50% of Perlis’s water supplies originate from the Ulu Muda forest. The Muda irrigation scheme in Kedah, which accounts for about 40% of total rice production in Malaysia, also relies greatly on water sourced from the Ulu Muda forests.

Unfortunately the importance of the Greater Ulu Muda as a water catchment is neglected by the State by continuing to allow logging in this area. Furthermore not the entire Ulu Muda Forest Reserve is classified as a water catchment area.  Several of the forest reserves here have been gazetted as Permanent Reserved Forests (PRFs) for both production and protection purposes.  

By allowing logging in the Ulu Muda Forest Reserve, its role as water catchment is adversely affected and jeopardizing water security because without the water storing and filtering functions of natural forests, rainfall will be significantly reduced and rainfall will not be captured and stored.

The drought in the northern states in 2016 had caused a drastic drop in the water levels of the Pedu and Muda dams.  PBAPP’s media statement of 8 March 2017 revealed that the storage capacity of Muda Dam was 60.3% on 1 January 2017 and it had dropped to 27.3% on 7 March 2017.  It is evident that deforestation had led to this water deficit.

Given the above, all logging and quarrying activities in the Greater Ulu Muda area must be stopped immediately. There should be no more issuance of logging concessionsin the Ulu Muda forests.The Federal government should deliver on its promise to compensate the Kedah State Government for not logging the Ulu Muda forests. 

Considering the importance of the forest reserves as water catchments, we call on the Kedah State Government to immediately gazette the entire Ulu Muda Forest Reserve and the surrounding forest reserves as water catchment forests under the National Forestry Act 1984 as they provide water to the Pedu, Muda and Ahning dams.

Water is Life. Save our Forests.

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
Chedo Anak NyuwenPersatuan Penduduk Sg Buri, Bakong, Marudi
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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