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States must pay greater attention to national policies and international policies and international commitments

  • Publication Date | March 3, 2021
  • Document Type | Media Statement
  • Programmes | Forests & Biodiversity
  • Issues | Biodiversity, Development, Forest Conversions, Forest Degazetting, Wildlife
  • Tags | Convention on Biological Diversity, Covid-19, Degazette, National Physical Plan, National Policy on Climate Change, Paris Agreement
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Today is the World Wildlife Day with a really apt theme, ‘Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Planet’. The theme this year was chosen to highlight the central role of forests, forest species and ecosystem functions in sustaining millions of people globally, not only for indigenous and forest-dependent communities but also the public at large.

It reminds us of our forgotten responsibility that we have towards every sentient being on this planet. It also reminds us that more than one year has passed since pandemonium broke out world over as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The world economy has been put on brakes while many countries including Malaysia have had multiple lockdowns to counter the devastating health impacts of the pandemic, which has been linked to a virus that has emerged from the wild. 

More zoonotic related diseases can emerge if we continue to destroy, encroach and degrade our natural habitats and ecosystems and not learn from the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

It is clear that some state governments have not learnt anything, and are continuing to take decisions to convert our last remaining precious natural ecosystems, for other purposes such as for mega reclamation projects, monoculture plantations, urban development and even for  radioactive and industrial waste disposal sites in forest reserves and environmentally-sensitive areas.

Examples of such destructive projects include proposals to degazette  the Kuala Langat North Forest Reserve in Selangor and other permanent reserved forests in Perak, the construction of radioactive and industrial wastes disposal facilities in a water catchment forest in Pahang, and the massive reclamation project in Penang which will permanently destroy rich fishing grounds. In addition, in states like Kedah, calls to gazette the greater Ulu Muda forest complex as water catchment forests have fallen on deaf years. 

We have to serious halt this trend and begin to protect our forests and marine ecosystems and livelihoods, including the natural wildlife habitats from conversion and fragmentation. Also needed is to increase our wildlife rehabilitation efforts and halting wildlife trade for good.

Although forestry and land governance is under state jurisdiction, state governments must not function in a way that seems oblivious to the various national policies that have been formulated by the federal government, such as the National Policy on Biological Diversity, the National Policy on Climate Change and the National Physical Plan. These policies have been formulated to implement Malaysia’s international commitments under processes such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Paris Agreement on climate change. Also important are the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the United Nations’ Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Therefore, on this day, we urge the state governments to pay heed to these international commitments and obligations and stop destroying and degrading our forest, coastal and marine ecosystems.

In addition, the federal government must assist the states financially to ensure that these international commitments and obligations are fulfilled in the protection of our forests and biodiversity and not continue to remain promises on paper which are meaningless.

Let’s do what is right in ensuring the sustainability of the current and future generations and put the planet before profits.     

Meenakshi Raman
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?
Chee Yoke Ling
Chee Yoke Lingstudent of SAM, Executive Director of Third World Network, SAM’s sister organisation

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Tel: +604 827 6930
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Baram, Sarawak,
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Tel & Fax: +6085 758 973

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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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