KUALA LUMPUR – Controversial the project may be, the Orang Asli of Kg Busut Baru stands to get an extra 60ha if the adjacent Kuala Langat North Forest Reserve (KLNFR) is to be degazetted for development.
A source close to the matter told The Vibes that the villagers will have the extra plot of land as compensation if the forest reserve’s mixed development goes through.
When the Temuan tribe was relocated next to KLNFR in 1993, to make way for Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), the tribespeople received 344ha of gazetted land in 1994.
The extra 60ha will up their total land acreage to 404ha.
“In addition, a total of 639ha of land is also in the process of gazettement for Orang Asli villages of Kg Bukit Cheeding, Kg Bukit Kecil, Kg Pulau Kempas and Kg Bukit Serdang,” said the source.
KLNFR – one of the few peat swamp forests left in Selangor – is state land.
The degazettement of KLNFR – all 971ha of it – for a mixed development project that was mooted since last year. But a public hearing on the matter was only done last month, where it was heavily objected by locals.
In Selangor, degazetting a forest reserve requires a reimbursement of equal nature and value, as per the state land code.
While the authorities did not specifically disclose which forest will be gazetted, the source said KLNFR will be replaced with 1,177ha of peat swamp forests near Sg Karang in Sg Besar and Ampang Pecah in Hulu Selangor.
“This replacement land is a part of a more extensive peat swamp forest network in the north of Selangor connected to the Sg Dusun Forest Reserve and Bukit Belata Forest Reserve in the west, and Raja Muda Musa in the south.
“Kuala Langat is the first district to be upgraded to municipality this year. With a population of 323,400 and growing, Kuala Langat is no longer a small town but a burgeoning municipality,” said the source.
As it is close to Putrajaya, KLIA and Cyberjaya, the Orang Asli settlements near KLNFR are flanked by developments, such as Gamuda Cove, Bandar Saujana Putra and Bandar Rimbayu.
“With greater Klang Valley growing strongly towards the south, with the west coast highway and ECRL bringing further development, there is a need for strategic growth.” – The Vibes, October 27, 2020
