S’gor Forestry Dept says excision of reserve started before enactment

Flashback to StarMetro’s report on July 7.

THE degazettement of Bukit Cherakah Forest Reserve (BCFR) did not go through a public hearing process as it took place prior to the adoption of an enactment in the National Forestry Act 1984, the Selangor Forestry Department said.

Department director Datuk Ahmad Fadzil Abdul Majid said Section 11 of Enactment (Adoption) 1985 requiring a public hearing was instituted in 2011, while the degazettement of BCFR was pending from 2006.

His statement was in response to a StarMetro report, “Public hearing must precede forest degazettement” on July 7 where Shah Alam Community Forest (SACF) Society honorary treasurer Dr Teckwyn Lim had said the degazettement contravened Selangor forestry laws.

ALSO READ: ‘Public hearing must precede forest degazettement’

“The degazettement of the Bukit Cherakah Forest Reserve on May 5, 2022, was to complete the degazettement process which had stopped around 2006.

“According to Section 13, Enactment (Adoption) 1985, the state authority must make known any area in permanent forest reserves that have been degazetted,” said Ahmad Fadzil.

Based on records, he explained that there had been a series of degazettements of BCFR in Section U10, Shah Alam, between 1991 and 2006, including an area of ​​406.22ha.

As such, he said the degazettment issued on May 5 this year was backdated in line with the decision of Selangor State Executive Council in 2000, after taking into account views from Selangor State Legal Advisor.

ALSO READ: Bukit Cerakah Forest Reserve degazettement completes process pending since 2006, says Forestry Dept

Meanwhile, Ahmad Fadzil said the replacement of land was only practised by the Selangor government at present, in line with the commitment to maintain at least 30% of forest area in the state.

“However, this ​​406.2ha area to be degazetted has no longer been recorded as part of the ​​permanent forest reserves since 2006.

“Currently, the remaining Bukit Cherakah Forest Reserve is 1,298.86ha and the Bukit Cherakah Additional Forest Reserve is 982.80ha.”

Both of these forests are still managed by the Selangor Forestry Department as a class of protected forests which are habitats for various flora and fauna.

“This forest area is also part of Taman Botani Shah Alam which is a main recreational park.

“Apart from that, part of Bukit Cherakah Forest Reserve is also used as a water catchment area to supply Tasik Subang Dam,” said Ahmad Fadzil.