The Save Green Lungs group with Teratai assemblyman Tiew Way Keng (front third from left) with the books of signatures collected from concern hikers and residents
A PETITION objecting to the degazettement of Sungai Puteh Forest Reserve in Ampang to make way for the Sungai Besi-Ulu Klang Expressway project was handed over to the Selangor Foresty Deparment today.
The team, led by Save Green Lungs group chairman Chan Man Yee, handed over the documents to the department’s assistant director Raffee Ahmad at the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah building in Shah Alam.
The group had been collecting signatures after notices of degazettement were published in a local newspaper last month.
In total, more than 10,000 signatures were collected from hikers and concerned residents.
The letter accompanying the petition detailed the reasons for their objections, which included their fears for the forest reserves such as flash floods, destruction of the ecosystem and lost of water catchment area.
Chan said the group was not opposed to a highway but felt the state government should focus instead on creating a public transport master plan.
“Though highways are good, our health is more important. Once they cut down the trees, there goes our place for recreational activities,” he said.
Committee member Jessy Phuah said the forest was not just decorative but a source of oxygen and a good water catchment area.
“Why do they want to de gazette our forest reserve and chop down our trees?
“Do we need to speed up our journeys by 20 minutes at the expense of the forest and bad quality of life?,” she asked.
Phuah said the group will do its best to preserve nature and they just need the state government to listen to the voices of the residents and hikers.
Teratai assemblyman Tiew Way Keng, who was present, said she has had received complaints of flash floods in Cheras, where Apek Hill is located.
"When it rains, mud and water gushes downhill. After a complaint was filed, a blue sheet was placed on the affected area but residents are worried."
She understood that the highway was initiated to serve the public but felt something bad could also arise if the trees were destroyed for the construction of the project.
Tiew said Tourism, Consumer Affairs and Environment Committee chairman Elizabeth Wong had informed her that a hearing would be called once the objection period ends.
She was informed another notice of degazettement will be published in a local newspaper soon, the group will then have another month to continue their petition and to reach out to affected residents.
Tiew hopes the state government would reconsider its plans and not allow the project to go on.
“The state government needs to convince the people it is transparent and would listen to the people,” she said.
The group will now try to get a meeting with Wong to give her a clearer picture as to why they are objecting and will invite her to visit any one of the tree hills - Bukit Apek, Bukit Ketumbar or Bukit Saga - to see for herself the conditions there.
They are also engaging the Selangor Forestry Department to allow rangers from the Cheras Tengah Foresty office to go on a walkabout with them to study the biodiversity in the forest.
The group are also keen to find out future plans for the forest reserve so they are able to understand what exactly would be affected from the project.
Limited time offer:
Just RM5 per month.
