BENTONG: An environmental group has expressed concern about the alleged de-gazettement of a permanent forest reserve to make way for a development project at Gohtong Jaya near Genting Highlands here.
RimbaWatch said the proposed 'Rimbawan township' is located on portions of the Bukit Tinggi forest reserve which were allegedly de-gazetted without public consultation.
"Based on Pahang Forestry Department maps in 2016, and the draft for the Bentong local area plan published in 2018, the project is mostly located in compartments 101 and 102 of the Bukit Tinggi Permanent Forest Reserve (PFR).
"However, the Genting Special Area Plan draft, published in March this year, shows that this forest reserve status had been removed.
"Upon searching available state gazettes, there is no de-gazettement of the Bukit Tinggi PFR and it is likely that the forest reserve was de-gazetted without a public consultation process between 2021 and 2024.
"RimbaWatch could not find any public announcement from the Pahang government concerning the respective de-gazettement," read the statement.
RimbaWatch further claims that checks also found that the upcoming township will be partially located on an Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) Rank 1 (which prohibits development, agriculture or logging).
It read that according to the Bentong local area plan published in 2018, nearly all of the project is located in areas with ESA Rank 1 classification and the plan describes that no municipal and agricultural development is allowed except for conservation and preservation, sustainable logging, limited eco-tourism activities, and research and development works (R&D) are permitted without affecting the carrying capacity.
"The Bentong local area plan draft shows that the 'Rimbawan' project constitutes a "pembangunan perbandaran (municipal development)" within an ESA Rank 1 area, which the plan does not allow.
"However, the plan provides a loophole for the development to come under the jurisdiction of the "Genting Highland SMA", which is the Genting Special Area Plan," it said.
The statement alleges that the development project will be partially located on a seismic fault line, an area which the Genting Special Area Plan has established is not safe for development, and on class VI (extremely poor) slopes, which are not recommended for development under government guidelines.
Meanwhile, RimbaWatch said due to the anticipated environmental risks which were identified by the state authorities, the 'Rimbawan project' should not proceed.
"The National Audit Department and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission should step in to investigate any potential misconduct in connection to the de-gazettement of the Bukit Tinggi Forest Reserve.
"The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission along with the Advertising Standards Malaysia should take action on misleading environmental claims in relation to the promotion of 'Rimbawan'," it read.
In October, it was reported that the 127.4ha eco-conscious development township named Rimbawan will offer bungalow lots, landed properties, high-rise residential units, commercial lots, 50 acres of preserved forest and jungle paths.
The New Straits Times has reached out to the Pahang Menteri Besar's office, Ketari assemblyman Su Keong Siong and Bentong Municipal Council for comments.