SEVERAL non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have expressed alarm at the Kelantan government’s insistence on pursuing active development in places marked as environmentally sensitive areas (ESAs).
They amplified their concerns after attending a hearing on the state’s proposal to amend key development plans for Kelantan – including the state’s structure plan, local plans and special area plans.
All the NGOs involved claimed that the move would result in widespread environmental damage, human-animal conflicts, and more natural disasters such as floods.
The NGOs had gathered at the Kota Darulnaim Complex, the state government’s main administrative centre in Kota Baru, where the hearing was held today.
They included representatives from Persatuan Aktivis Sahabat Alam (Kuasa), Malaysian Nature Society (MNS), the MNS’ Kelantan branch, Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM), the Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Semenanjung (Jaringan), and the Persatuan Cakna Alam Kelantan.
Indigenous settlements threatened
Kuasa chairman Hafizudin Nasarudin said that the state government needs to urgently reconsider proposals to have development at the ESAs as many of them have traditional Orang Asli villages.
“If these ESAs are allowed to be developed, it may pave the way for development activities that are not suitable,” he said.
“In Kelantan, many logging activities are tending to chop down trees fully or even have tracts removed completely.
“Many other things will also happen, including mining activities, and the opening of farms and vegetable orchards in forest reserves,” he said.
Commenting further, he said, if the state government does not control the way forests are cleared, it will eventually cause the state’s economy to be in a critical state because it will have to bear the costs arising from consequences such as floods and landslides.
“It is possible that many more large-scale exploitations will happen in the future,” he said.
“We have already seen a lot of exploitations recently that have resulted in the loss of human lives due to tiger attacks... This occurred because the animals lost their habitat and we do not want such situations to arise again,” he said.
Move contravenes federal policy
MNS warned of the impact the development would have on the biodiversity.
Its conservation officer Ng Sean Fong said that that it would endanger the various species of animals in the forests, pointing out that most of them live in low-lying areas.
“Until now, issues related to elephants, tigers and other wild animals have not been resolved, and there have been conflicts with humans,” he was quoted as saying by Sinar Harian.
Ng said that he has sent an 18-page objection report on the proposal to develop ESAs in November last year.
SAM field officer Meor Razak Meor Abd Rahman said that they were not satisfied with the details provided at the hearing as the state’s intention contradict with plans on ESAs at the national level.
“The decision to develop ESAs is seen as not in sync with the federal government which wants all states to protect existing areas,” he was quoted as saying by Berita Harian.
He explained that the federal government’s aim is in line with Section 6B(5) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1976.
Meor Razak also warned that disturbing any protected area can damage the environment, including coastal forests, educational forests, and state protected parks.
Environment minister concerned
On October 21 last year, Rimbawatch, an environmental watchdog, had raised alarm that the alterations had been proposed in the Kelantan state structure plan, local plans and special area plans.
RimbaWatch said that it was appalled by the “unprecedented proposal” to remove all environmentally sensitive areas in Kelantan from the plans.
On October 27, the Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry also expressed concern.
Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad stressed that it is vital to maintain the status of permanent forest reserves in the state and this ensures that the areas cannot be developed arbitrarily in the future.
He said that his ministry fundamentally disagreed with the state government’s inclination to implement proposed changes to the official state development plans for Kelantan.
He said that he has sent a letter to Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob expressing the views and concerns of the federal government on this matter.
At the same time, twelve NGOs, together with the Kelantan branch of PKR, also strongly warned the state authority of the massive risks the people face if it proceeds to modify the status of ESAs, which are mostly rainforests.
They sent a memorandum to the state government to oppose the proposed changes to the development plan for the state involving an area of 514,898 hectares. – The Vibes, February 25, 2024
