Headline `No transparency in degazettement exercise` MediaTitle The Star (Metro North) Date 08 Dec 2018 Color Full Color Section News Circulation 37,279 Page No 14,15 Readership 111,837 Language English ArticleSize 1529 cm² Journalist SHALIWI RAVINDRAW AdValue RM 40,615 Frequency Daily PR Value RM 121,845

14Community Whirl STARMETRO, SATURDAY 8 DECEMBER 2018 STARMETRO, SATURDAY 8 DECEMBE

An aerial view of the proposed housing development that would involve the degazettement of 28.3ha of the Bukit Proposed plot forest reserve Forest Reserve in Gombak. for degazettement of Bukit Lagong Kanching forest reserve recreational forest

Templer recreational 'No transparency in forest

Bukit Lagong forest reserve degazettement exercise'

Legend

M Proposed degazettement plot NGOs and stakeholders highlight misleading information • Wildlife corridor connecting Bukit Lagong and the relating to proposal to develop 28ha plot in forest reserve State Park FRIM ©The Star Graphics By SHALIWI RAVIN DRAW questioning state authorities for and PRIYA MENOIM wanting to degazette the forest. [email protected] MNS president Ahmad Ismail said the identified area was one of the PLANNING approval for a proposed last wildlife corridors connecting the housing project at Bukit Lagong, forest reserve to the Ranching and Gombak, was given to Selangor State Templer forests, which made up part Development Corporation (PKNS) of the Selangor State Park. even before the proposal to The state park is classified Rank 1 degazette the forest reserve. Environmentally Sensitive Area State Environment, Green under the National Physical Plan, Technology, Consumer and and accorded highest protection. Nonlslamic Affairs Committee "Breaking this link will cause the chairman Hee Loy Sian said PKNS Bukit Lagong Forest Reserve to was given the green light for the become an 'island' and the entire project in 2003 by the Selangor forest ecosystem will be doomed. State Executive Council (MMKN) "Even the area's microclimate but it was not carried out. Leela says IMGOs and stakeholders will be affected, which will have a Hee said the land was no longer should be well informed on any cascading effect on the forest's suitable as a forest reserve as it was degazettement exercise. biodiversity," he said. surrounded by housing develop- Ahmad said any development in ments, hence the decision to excise the housing project. the forest could also affect more the 28.3ha area. The Selangor Forestry Department than 100 species of birds. He added that PKNS had identified placed a notice in major dailies on "The noise from the construction a replacement forest reserve in Nov 23 inviting stakeholders in will be a major factor. Any trees cut Broga, , that would be the to voice their down will jeopardise nesting sites. gazetted as a forest reserve instead. objections to the proposal within 30 "Additionally, it can affect flight "The replacement land is also a days. paths of migratory birds," he said. forest owned by PKNS. It is located The public hearing is in accord- Trees director Leela Panikkar said below Broga Hill. ance with the Public Inquiry that hilly terrain consisted of Class "It is already a forested area and (Selangor) Rules 2014 as well as III and Class IV slopes. will be gazetted as a forest reserve. National Forestry Act (Adoption) Class 1 is the least severe in terms The area is much larger than the one Enactment 19 85 which makes the of terrain grading where slope in Bukit Lagong. exercise (placement of notice) angles are less than 15 degrees. "This will also protect Broga Hill compulsory before a forest reserve Slopes with angles greater than 35 as a recreational area as it is famous can be degazetted. degrees are classified as Class IV as with hikers," he said at the state they pose the highest risk. assembly recently. A wildlife corridor She said checks at the council Municipal Council (MPS), The move to degazette the forest, showed that the local draft plan did he said, in its Local Draft Plan one of the last wildlife corridors, will not indicate the land was part of the (Replacement) 2030 designated the jeopardise the movement of animals permanent forest reserve. site in contention as a housing zone. living in the area, environmental "This is very misleading and Recently, StarMetro reported that groups said. creates a misconception. there would be a 30-day public Treat Every Environment Special "Anyone looking at the draft plan hearing seeking feedback on a (Trees), along with Malaysian Nature will assume that the area was proposal to degazette part of the Society (MNS) and Global degazetted but this is not the case." Bukit Lagong forest reserve for Environment Center (GEC) are MNS senior advisor Tan Sri Dr Headline `No transparency in degazettement exercise` MediaTitle The Star (Metro North) Date 08 Dec 2018 Color Full Color Section News Circulation 37,279 Page No 14,15 Readership 111,837 Language English ArticleSize 1529 cm² Journalist SHALIWI RAVINDRAW AdValue RM 40,615 Frequency Daily PR Value RM 121,845

Star

Stop Bukit Lagong project

Environmental groups say cutting down part of the forest reserve in Gombak for a housing project will upset the ecological balance of the area. >2&3

StarMetro Valley's report on the proposed housing project.

The adventure park at Taman Rimba Bukit Lagong managed by MPS draws its fair share of outdoor enthusiasts. — Filepic

Salleh Mohd Nor said the state indigenous communities. authorities should not disturb "The Bukit Lagong , who gazetted forests for any type of live close to the forest reserve's Selangor has many development. boundary, rely heavily on forest abandoned housing "There are other forested areas resources for their sustenance and that are degraded which can be also for their income," she said. projects that should utilised but not an area as strategic Pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah as Bukit Lagong. Alam (Peka) president be looked into before "If there is a need for more Puan Sri Shariffa Sabrina Syed Akil opening up more housing, Selangor has many aban- said the proposed degazettement doned housing projects that should showed that the government was land, wk be seriously looked into before not interested in preserving the opening up more land. natural environment and was Tan Sri Dr Salleh Mohd Nor "Why take the easy route to instead driven by an obsession to destroy a forest for selfish gain?" develop any piece of land that was commercially viable. in approving such a development Affecting livelihoods "Other groups and stakeholders at the expense of the forest? GEC Outreach and Partnership have spoken out against this move "If the government is sincere, they Programme coordinator Adelaine and their reasons are very clear," should engage all stakeholders and Several families still reside at the Bukit Lagong Orang Asli village Tan said any development would she said in a public statement. NGOs instead of merely calling for a located about 2km away from the proposed project site. — Filepic impact the environment and "What is their (authorities) motive public hearing," she added.