Selangor Gerakan State Liaison Committee Chairman Datuk David Ang Chin Tat and ten (10) members of the state committee have submitted a letter of protest to the Selangor state government to voice their disagreement over the state government’s decision to excise two forest reserves for the construction of Sungai Besi-Ulu Kelang Elevated Expressway (SUKE) and Damansara-Shah Alam Elevated Expressway. The letter was accepted by Sukri on behalf of the Selangor state government.
In the letter, Selangor Gerakan voiced its clear disagreement regarding the press statement published on 16 March 2016 reporting that the Selangor state government’s intention to excise two forest reserves for the construction of expressway.
According to the press statement, the Selangor government intends to excise two forest reserves, measured at 29.982 hectares and 3.41 hectares each to make way for SUKE and DASH projects. Under the Section 11 of the National Forestry Act 1984, the public has the right to object within 30 days after the notice.
After submitting the letter, David Ang stressed in a press conference that the Selangor state government should consider submitting an independent Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for public scrutiny before deciding to sacrifice the 2 forest lands.
“Currently, Malaysia is badly hit by El Nino heat wave and dry spell which results in water shortage. As such, the Selangor state government should not ignore the environmental threats in such critical time, it should seek alternatives to avoid sacrificing our forests,” said David Ang.
He also cited the East Klang Valley Expressway (EKVE), which badly impact the Ampang Forest Reserve that was forced to close down in 3 years.
“The state government intends to deforest the 106.65 hectares of forest reserve, which will bring unimaginable damage to Taman Warisan Negeri Selangor used for water catchment,” added Ang.
He continued that, once the forest reserve is deforested, Selangorians will lose approximately 19 million litres supply of drinking water, affecting 9,255 households. It will also bring negative consequences to Ampang Pilot Station and Klang Gate water supplies to 80,000 Selangor residential and industrial users.
selangoronline.com 
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