GEORGE TOWN – Former water, land, and natural resources minister Datuk Dr Xavier Jayakumar has raised concerns at Kedah Menteri Besar Mohammad Sanusi Md Nor’s intention to allow deforestation to occur in a protected reserve at the Greater Ulu Muda Forest
“We will be experiencing more flooding and drought in the coming years. The only way to reduce these natural disasters is to listen to the call for preservation,” Xavier said, noting that there have been objections from certain NGOs and political parties.
He pointed out that Malaysia is one of the Like-Minded Megadiverse Countries (LMMCs) which harbour the majority of the Earth’s species, and house 60% to 70% of the world’s biodiversity and associated traditional knowledge.
He said LMMCs need to fight for sustainable forest management. “We need to protect our permanent forests and work on protocols to help manage and maintain secondary and depleted forests,” he said in a statement today.
“This is workable through public-private partnerships. It is the will of the (Kedah) state government that is needed. Do not think for the present but what will happen 30 years from now.”
“It is clear now that the menteri besar of Kedah does not understand the concept of climate change and how it will affect us in allowing 25,000 hectares of rainforest to be logged.
“Leadership comes with responsibility, not only when you are in power, but also what you leave behind after.”
Xavier said that during his tenure as minister he had impressed upon the then menteri besar of Kedah, Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir, the importance of protecting the Ulu Muda forest.
“A satellite image of the whole area was presented to the Kedah government and we were able to come to an understanding to not open any more new areas for logging and to study the area. This was a strategic plan to safeguard our natural resources and biodiversity.”
Xavier said he is thankful that the current Perikatan Nasional (PN) federal government has decided to continue the 100 Million Tree Planting Programme mooted by the former Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration in 2019.
However, Sanusi must realise that forests are catchment areas for water, and play an important role in the prevention of floods, he stressed.
“The ongoing floods in Peninsular Malaysia are happening because of climate change, and deforestation will only worsen the situation.”
He suggested that the Ulu Muda forest reserve be gazetted as a royal state park to permanently stop any logging activities in the area.
He stressed that Malaysia has pledged to maintain at least 50% of forest cover at the UN Conference on Environment and Development, also known as the Rio Summit, in 1992.
As of 2018, approximately 55.31% of the total land cover of Malaysia is still forest, he said.
“If Malaysia wants to be serious about protecting its forest, it should follow the example of Sabah, where forest preservation of the Maliau Basin 20,000ha has been designated as off-limits to mankind for another 50 years. No trespassing is allowed, even for scientific research.”
He called on every state to set aside such parcels of forest for the next 50 years.
Just last week, Sanusi told the press that logging activities outside the Ulu Muda Forest Reserve area are controlled and will not affect the water catchment area. Thus the water supply to Kedah, Perlis and Penang would continue to run smoothly.
He said the results of his monitoring found that logging is carried out in a controlled manner in areas that have been approved. – The Vibes, January 9, 2021
