Kuala Langat North Forest Reserve- Call for Suspension of Degazettement Process in light of COVID-19 Pandemic
SAVE KUALA LANGAT NORTH FOREST RESERVE FROM DE-GAZETTEMENT
Degazettment process should be suspended in light of COVID-19 Pandemic
For Immediate Release
SELANGOR, 26 MARCH 2020: The Coalition for the Protection of Selangor’s Forests demands that the degazettement process for the Kuala Langat North Forest Reserve be suspended due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The current Movement Control Order (MCO) and the suspending of activities by NGOs by the Registrar of Societies have made it impossible to have any proper assessment of impacts or dialogue on the proposed degazettement.
Amidst the ongoing COVID-19 crisis and the announcement of the MCO on 16 March 2020, the Coalition feels that the Selangor Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari’s announcement at the Selangor State Legislative Assembly sitting on 17 March 2020 that the state government would soon conduct a public hearing session for the proposed degazettement , is inappropriate. Leela Panikkar from Treat Every Environment Special (TrEES) and coordinator of the Coalition said, “The Registrar of Societies (RoS) on 16th March 2020, banned all societies from holding any activity until the end of June to curb the spread of Covid-19. The Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA) on the same day, suspended visits to Orang Asli villages in the Peninsula. This has made it impossible for any dialogue and
assessment of the importance of the forest reserve to the Orang Asli to take place. In addition, with the enforcement of the MCO on 18th March and its extension till 14 April, stakeholders are unable to consult and prepare for the public inquiry”…………
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