Recently, I found out through the Malay daily Utusan Malaysia, via Screenshots, that areas near certain nature reserves in Malaysia are being violated, with consent of the state.
There seems to be a public outcry on the issue. It is quite rare to see Malaysians bringing up environmental concerns to the spotlight and this outrage along with the Tioman and the Broga matters might just change that and move the political atmosphere in Malaysia towards the greens’ courtyard. Hence, I am glad that the media brought this unnecessary abuse of the environment to public scrutiny. Else, the loud noise of bulldozers bringing the trees down would go unheard and most Malaysians would still not care for the environment. But then again, that might not be the case since this issue might involves corruption by someone somewhere in the government of excessive size.
I must admit that at the moment, I’m unclear on the issue. I don’t know who is to blame as I am not sure how does the system work. It seems to me however that the state has full control on the matter. Even the Malaysian Prime Minister has been quoted that he won’t interfere with the state government’s jurisdiction. Regardless of that, somebody is being negligent and that somebody needs to be identified and brought to justice.
Repairs should of priority and finding the negligent person is secondary. However, a good system is a system that provides satisfying rewards for good behavior and offers sufficient punishment for poor choice of action. To instill good feeling of environmental responsibility and indeed, good governance, such system needs to be in place. So, while repairs should be the uttermost agenda, punishing the person or persons that contribute to the destruction should be of importance.
If the state government fails to do so, then I assert the head of the state of Selangor to resign for failure to protect nature resources that are essential to the people. And using Utusan Malaysia’s own words, translated by Jeff Ooi:
Does it mean that the (Selangor) state government is unaware of the enviromental damage even though the site – government land – is less than 10km from the menteri besar’s office?
Clearly, this is incompetence shown on behalf of the Chief Minister. Or at the very least, he doesn’t care. Or didn’t given the fact that the heat is currently on him. And I don’t feel comfortable having somebody in office that doesn’t care what he is supposed to care.
To come to think of it, Selangor currently has a few major environmental challenges. Apart from this blatant development near of forest reserves, the “world most advance and cleanest” incinerator is to be built in Broga while the world renown firefly refuge in Kuala Selangor is currently suffering a decline in firefly population.
I say enough of this. All this should stop here and now and we should quickly remove the irresponsible legislature(s) that make the destruction possible. I say, let’s start with Khir Toyo. I say, the Malaysians blogosphere must move against Khir Toyo. We should do Bloggers against Khir Toyo or something.
Or I might need to play World of Warcraft some more.
