Bukit Cahaya Issue Prompts Reaction From At Least Two State Govts

Bukit Cahaya Issue Prompts Reaction From At Least Two State Govts
06/03/2005 Bernama

ALOR STAR, March 6 (Bernama) -- At least two state governments have responded positively for the environment following the reported degradation around the Bukit Cahaya Seri Alam Agriculture Park in Selangor.

The Kedah government has prohibited with immediate effect the felling of trees in all towns and housing estates without the written approval of the local authorities while the Penang government has asked the people to report any development activity that damages the eco-system.

Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Syed Razak Syed Zain said Sunday approval for tree felling must be sought explaining why the trees had to be felled.

"From now on, the state government will no longer allow the indiscriminate felling of trees in these areas," he told reporters after 205 members of 15 local authorities took their oath of office for the 2005-2006 term at the Dewan Seri Negeri, here.

He also said that the 110-km Trans Eastern Highway connecting Durian Burung in Padang Terap with Penang would not adversely effect the environment.

Construction of the highway is expected to begin in the middle of this year at a cost of RM350 million and is scheduled for completion in three years. It will develop the eastern part of Kedah, areas such as Sik, Baling and Padang Terap.

In PENANG, Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon appealed for the people's cooperation in reporting damage to the eco-system, saying the cooperation was necessary because the state government was concerned over development near areas gazetted as water catchment and forest reserves.

He said that two years ago the state government had gazetted several forest areas as water catchment and forest reserves.

"Previously, there have been proposals to develop Penang Hill and several other hilly areas and we have taken precautionary measures by following certain standards in developing such areas," he told reporters after launching a recreation pond and park of the Penang Municipal Council in Taman Perbandaran.

"We always monitor such cases. If the people come to know of such cases, please report to the authorities or the media can expose the matter through their channels," he said.

Koh said the state government was in the process of gazetting mangrove forests.

-- BERNAMA