KUALA LUMPUR: Over four hundred hectares in the Bukit Cerakah Forest Reserve has been degazetted to make way for development.
Selangor-based ecologist Dr Teckwyn Lim said a notification on the matter was issued on Lawnet Malaysia's website on May 5 this year.
In Selangor's National Forestry Act (Adoption) Enactment 1985 on Excision of Land from Permanent Forest Reserve notification, it was mentioned that the excision of the 406.22ha comes to force after it was approved by the Selangor State Executive Councillor meeting on Nov 20, 2000.
Lim said since the notification was issued on May 5, the status of that area in the forest reserve status would be changed beginning the same date.
He expressed disappointment in the matter and said the state government should have done a public inquiry before the degazettement.
However, none was done to date, he said.
"There was no public inquiry, and no replacement.
"This is kind of a mystery. Is this legal? The law clearly says they must hold a public inquiry," he said during the Public Forum Series: Status of Forest Reserves in Selangor and Future Challenges organised by the Malaysia Nature Society here today.
Lim, who is honorary secretary of the Shah Alam Community Forest Society, said the land was being developed by state-owned Selangor State Development Corporation.
Although he was unsure of the details of the reason behind the degazettment of the land, he said it could have been earmarked for the construction of housing, roads and cemeteries there.
He said it was crucial to preserve the Bukit Cerakah Forest Reserve as it was a habitat for endangered species such as the Malayan tapir, white-handed gibbon and even hornbill.
There are also more than 450 species of plants in the Bukit Cerakah Forest Reserve.
He said over 20 tapirs were killed over the years as they tried to cross the road constructed near there.
"It is mind boggling that they want to clear the forest.
"There is no way the Selangor government can dodge from this. They should not blame the previous government. They have been in power since 2008," he added.
The issue of development in the Bukit Cerakah Forest Reserve came to light last year.
However, the Selangor government had clarified that development project was not within the permanent reserved forest area.
State Tourism, Environment and Green Technology, and Orang Asli Affairs Committee chairman Hee Loy Sian had said that the site in question was part of an area degazetted by the previous state government for the purpose of ownership.