KUALA LUMPUR – The Pertahankan Hutan Simpan Kuala Langat Utara (PHSKLU) environmental coalition is mulling legal action to protect 958ha of the forest reserve from being degazetted for commercial development.
In an online press conference today, Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) programme coordinator Suresh Balasubramaniam said PHSKLU, which counts 15 civil society groups as members, has spoken to lawyers on the matter.
“Discussions are ongoing. I don’t like to reveal more, because things are not yet confirmed. We are looking into the possibility of litigation. Yes, it’s happening now.”
Asked whether the group will lodge a police report against Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari over his role in the degazettement attempt, Suresh said the plan is hampered by movement restrictions brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.
This is also why the group can only organise petitions and press conferences online to put pressure on the state government, as it would be unwise to hold in-person protests while the virus threat persists.
After a deluge of 45,000 written objections submitted since last February, followed by a rowdy town hall in September, state authorities have kept relatively silent on the fate of the Kuala Langat North Forest Reserve. – The Vibes, February 4, 2021
