Environmental group to hand over memo to all 222 MPs, seeking amendments to National Forestry Act

KUALA LUMPUR: The Association for the Protection of the Natural Heritage of Malaysia (Peka) will hand over a memorandum to all 222 MPs to demand greater environment protection from the government.

According to Peka vice-president Sophine Tan, the memorandum will contain demands to amend several provisions in the National Forestry Act 1984.

Tan also said Peka will hand over the memorandum to lawmakers in Parliament sometime between July 8 and 17, before the end of the current Parliament sitting on July 18.

"The amendment is that we want Malaysians to have a right to the forest," said Tan briefly, adding that specifics of the amendments will be released in a press statement Monday (July 8).

She said that the memorandum would also demand for a climate change panel to be set up, which will consist of all stakeholders including, NGOs, government officers and the corporate sector.

"Everyone that has everything to do with the land has to be on that panel. We also demand better enforcement," she said.

She also said that a rally will be held on the last day of the current Parliamentary session on July 18, where participants will march at Padang Merbok from 8am onwards, heading towards Parliament.

"We must work together. Otherwise, we will lose everything," she added.

A rally was staged at Dataran Merdeka Sunday (July 7), demanding greater Government action on climate change-based initiatives and policies.

The "#MYClimateRally, organised by Klima Acton Malaysia (Kamy), had consisted of Malaysians from several NGOs including the Association for the Protection of the Natural Heritage of Malaysia (Peka), Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) and Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM).

The group begun walking at 11.30am from the Masjid Jamek LRT station to Dataran Merdeka, chanting "reject logging", "We want climate justice" and "power to the people", among others.

Members of the group, which consisted of Malaysians from all walks of life, were also holding placards that read "march now or swim later", and "alam sekitar milik kita (the environment belongs to us)".

The rally was monitored by a group of 10 police officers.

The group dispersed shortly after the rally ended at 1pm.