GEORGE TOWN – The Penang government has gazetted 6,288ha of forests as water catchment areas on December 2, 2004, said Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow today.
He said the forests was gazetted under the Water Supply Enactment (EPA) 1998, Water Supply (Catchment Area) Order 2004, and not under the National Forestry Act 1984 under the federal government.
“The gazetting of this catchment area also involves an area of 3,565ha of permanent forest reserve. This means that 70% of permanent forest reserves have been set aside for water catchment purposes,” he said at a press conference at Komtar.
Also present was the state forestry department director Muhammad Ezhar Yusuf.
On Tuesday, Environment and Water Minister Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Man in the Dewan Rakyat said Penang is the only state in the peninsula that has not gazetted its forests as water catchment areas.
Chow said the issue was raised due to differences in the act, but the state government was committed to continuing the gazetting process under the National Forestry Act 1984.
“The state forestry department will continue the gazetting process, which is expected to be completed by June 2021.”
Meanwhile, Ezhar said that in principle, Penang has protected its forests as water catchment areas, but under a different legislation.
He said the two laws are not significantly different in terms of enforcement and regulation.
“The National Forestry Act 1984 legislation pertains permanent forest management only, but the state enactment includes land management.” – The Vibes, December 17, 2020
