Forest reserve status not enough, make Ulu Muda state park

GEORGE TOWN – Water supply for nearly four million people in three states will be threatened if Kedah’s Ulu Muda Forest Reserve is not gazetted as a state park, warned yet another green group, adding to calls for the area’s protection.

The Malaysian Nature Lovers’ Association (MNLA) said not only will domestic consumers in Kedah, Penang and Perlis be greatly impacted, but also food production in the Muda Agriculture Farming Scheme.

“Water resources in Ulu Muda are threatened by logging, whether legal or illegal, climate change and unauthorised exploration,” said MNLA president Prof Ahmad Ismail.

“Ulu Muda is gazetted only as a forest reserve, and logging is allowed in certain areas reserved for that purpose every 35 years.”

Failure to properly protect the water catchment area may also affect tourism and industries especially in Kedah and Penang, he said.

Sahabat Alam Malaysia and Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang Sdn Bhd previously urged the authorities to gazette the Ulu Muda Forest Reserve as a state park, with the water authority recently calling on Putrajaya to prevent the Kedah government from allowing logging there.

This follows Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor’s statement that logging has been approved in a 25,553ha area, or 16% of the 160,000ha forest.

Ahmad, who has been studying the Ulu Muda issue since 2017, said Penang must get more creative when it comes to water management.

“Penang has long enjoyed Ulu Muda water for industry, port, agriculture and domestic uses.

“Maybe, it’s time to have a method to help maintain the Ulu Muda forest.”

Presently, the forest reserve supplies 96% of Kedah’s raw water, Perlis (70%) and Penang (80%) for domestic, agricultural and industrial uses.

Padi fields in Kedah and southern Perlis account for 45% to 50% of the country’s rice production.

Ahmad said he welcomes Sanusi’s survey of logging management in Ulu Muda, which touched on issues like buffer zones and tree species that are barred from being felled.

“It is hoped that immediate action can be taken to address the issues discussed, including water resources, natural resources, wildlife habitats and other services provided by Ulu Muda.”

Sanusi earlier this month conducted a three-day survey of Ulu Muda to see the forest for himself and monitor water-flow conditions.

However, his visit was misunderstood by some netizens as being for logging purposes. – The Vibes, October 16, 2020