SUPPORT PENANG CHIEF MINISTER’S CALL FOR BAN ON LOGGING IN ULU MUDA FOREST RESERVE AND TO COMPENSATE KEDAH
Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) and the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) today supported the call by Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, to ban logging in the Ulu Muda Forests Reserves (UMFR), and for the Federal Government to compensate Kedah for the loss of revenue caused by the logging ban.
We also support the move by the Penang State Government to initiate a top-level meeting between the Federal Government and the leaders of Kedah and Perlis to find an amicable solution to the logging activities, so that the water catchment forests in the UMFR and its surrounding areas (known as the Greater Ulu Muda Forest) are protected.
Under the previous government, logging has damaged areas in the UMFR, and there should be no logging at all permitted in the area, including extractive activities such as mining or quarrying.
We are deeply concerned by the statement as reported in the media by the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) Datuk Jaseni Maidinsa, that with the rate of logging in the Ulu Muda, the forests will be finished in about 12 to 15 years and that we would face a serious water crisis.
We therefore urge the newly elected Kedah State Government to urgently gazette the Ulu Muda Forests as water catchment forests and immediately review and revoke any logging licenses that have been approved by the previous government and halt all such activities within the forests area which threaten its life-supporting functions.
We also agree that measures must be taken to compensate the Kedah State Government for keeping its forests intact for the larger public good, in exchange for the loss of revenue from logging or other activities.
Apart from making available national resources for compensating Kedah, there are also funds available internationally such as from the Green Climate Fund and the Global Environment Facility for the protection and conservation of our precious forests. The Federal and State governments must avail themselves of these resources urgently.
The Ulu Muda forests are critical in meeting the water needs of Perlis, Kedah and Penang, and serving an estimated population of 4.09 million people in three states. About 96% of raw water in Kedah, 70% in Perlis and more than 80% in Penang comes from the Ulu Muda.
The raw water originating from Ulu Muda is also essential for double cropping in the rice fields of Kedah, Perlis and Penang, which includes the nation’s rice bowl.
The forests also play a major role as a ‘carbon sink’ critical for addressing climate change.
We call for no further delay acting to saving and protecting the Ulu Muda forests.
Press Release, 24 June 2018