Otai Reformis threatens blockade over Kuala Langat forest reserve redevelopment

PETALING JAYA (Feb 19): Pro-Anwar Ibrahim group Otai Reformis 1998 threatened to put an orang asli blockade at the entrance to Bangunan Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah (SSAAS) in Shah Alam if the Selangor government proceeds with a proposal to build a mixed development project in the Kuala Langat North Forest Reserve (KLNFR), the Star reported today.

The group of Reformasi veterans gave the state government has seven days to stop the redevelopment of the 930.93ha land which is located near orang asli communities.

According to the Star, the group's secretary Abdul Razak Ismail said the orang asli's livelihood was at stake and their welfare must be looked at seriously.

"The forest reserve is home to three generations of orang asli communities, spread across seven villages.

"It is their hunting ground for wild animals and food such as jungle plants and fruits.

"Developing this area will destroy the natural ecosystem, flora and fauna, which the orang asli depend on as a source of income," he said after submitting a memorandum to the state today objecting to the degazettement of KLNFR and removal of its permanent forest reserve status, together with a similar memorandum from the Organisation for the Preservation of Natural Heritage Malaysia (Peka).

Speaking to the Star, Peka vice-president Saha Deva said the development would be detrimental not only to the orang asli but also the state, as a whole.

"It is the only 'green lung' in Kuala Langat. Besides boasting unique biodiversity, it also plays a vital role as an underground water catchment area, which will adversely affect the whole state in the long term," he said.

The report said a copy of the memorandum was sent to the state Environment, Green Technology, Science and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Hee Loy Sian, and received by state Forestry Department director Mohd Ridzuwan Endot at Bangunan SSAAS.

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