Development threatens to wipe out forest land the size of Bentong

KUALA LUMPUR – Despite the public hue and cry, and the blaming of December’s devastating flash floods on excessive logging and land-clearing activities, Malaysia may have to brace for the destruction of forest land the size of Bentong, or 1,754.012ha, should approvals be granted.

Tracts of forests in Terengganu (1,092.651ha), Pahang (466.794ha), Johor (157.167ha) and Perak (37.4ha) are at risk of being wiped out to make way for agricultural and other commercial activities.

This was revealed by independent forest monitoring initiative Rimba Disclosure Project, which collated information from environmental impact assessment (EIA) reports, listings of land sale, and news articles.

Forest trees in exchange for coconuts and apartments

Some 414.398ha of secondary peat forest in Pekan, Pahang may be cleared for a coconut plantation, according to an EIA submitted by Dataran Budiman Sdn Bhd.

The EIA – dated January 2022 and released by the Environment Department (DoE) on February 8 – said the plot of land is not part of a forest reserve, but a peat swamp jungle marked for industrial, housing and agricultural use.

Checks by The Vibes reveal that Dataran Budiman is an agricultural company involved in the cultivation of pineapples and coconuts.

According to documents filed with the Companies Commission (SSM), Dataran Budi’s directors are Liew Teen Chai and Liew Kim Choi, with Bahagia Dataran Sdn Bhd as its sole shareholder.

Teen Chai is also understood to be a director of Felcra Jaya Samarahan Sdn Bhd, which is a palm oil company.

Meanwhile, another EIA in Pahang concerns a mixed development project in Cameron Highlands that will see some 20.84ha of forest land filled with serviced apartments, villas, and shops.

The RM1.5 billion project is undertaken by Casa Inspirasi Sdn Bhd, reported Malaysiakini.

For this project, the public was invited to participate in a survey overseen by the Cameron Highlands District Council as part of the development’s social impact assessment.

Based on SSM data, Casa Inspirasi calls four parties as its shareholders – LBS Bina Holdings Sdn Bhd, Alunan Fleksibel Sdn Bhd, former Olympian and football player Datuk Mohd Abdah Alif, and former Indera Mahkota MP (2004-2008) Datuk Seri Adnan Wan Mamat.

Adnan is also an Umno member and a former Pahang exco member. He was appointed in November 2020 as director of Royal Pahang Durian Produce Sdn Bhd, which is one of the subsidiaries of Royal Pahang Durian Group.

Another EIA showed that a road infrastructure project from Pahang’s Hulu Tembeling to Pasir Raja in Johor was submitted by RME Sdn Bhd on January 31.

According to Rimba’s report, it alleged that the project could risk affecting key wildlife habitats in Taman Negara and Hulu Tembeling.

While the full EIA report is not available, the DoE database showed that the department received it on January 31 but could not determine the land size involved.

Checks on SSM found that RME is a Terengganu-based firm and its website noted Datuk Roslan Awang Chik as company chairman and director.

He is an Umno veteran who served as a senator between 2004 and 2010.

RME’s other shareholders are RME Holdings Sdn Bhd, Aminorddin Shamsuddin, Jusoh Ali and Ahmad Hafiz Roslan.

All three separate EIAs have yet to be approved.

Virgin forest for sale

A 1,092.651ha plot in Terengganu is listed online for sale although its price was not made public.

According to the advertisement posted by Masta Property, the plot of land is described as “forest reserve/virgin forest with tin ore” and it comes with a 99-year lease.

Interested buyers must first show proof of funds and a bank draft amounting to 10% of the sale price.

Meanwhile, logging and palm oil plantations have been proposed for 157.167ha of forest land in Johor, and headed by construction company Lengor Venture Sdn Bhd.

However, not much is known about its directors – Sunmugam Ramasamy, Mohd Azizul Nasir and Yuwarajan Vellisamy – and shareholders Khairul Fahmi Mohd Ali and Masayu Mahat. – The Vibes, April 18, 2022