BY HAFIZAN TAIB
SHAH ALAM, SEP 26: The State Government has recorded a 31.6% forest reserve, exceeding target, in its effort to maintain its permanent forest reserve.
The Tourism, Environment, Green Technology and Consumer Affairs Exco, Elizabeth Wong said the State Government is committed in its effort to reserve at least 30% of its land although Selangor is the most densely populated and industrialised and the most progressive state in Malaysia.
“We have the best forest protection policy in the country where we are implementing a 25-years moratorium on commercial logging since 2009.
“We have enacted a new law to hold a public hearing before revoking any forest reserve status,” she said in the Muzakarah Pakar Maqasid al-Shariah 2017 launch ceremony at the IDE building today.
She said, besides forest preservation, the State Government is also implementing the Low Carbon City Framework (LCCF) to create a sustainable community and environment, and has launched the #BebasPlastik campaign since 2009 in the effort to protect the environment and biological diversity.
She added that the Institut Darul Ehsan’s (IDE) effort to organise the discourse on environmental issues is commendable and should be encouraged as it connects academicians, policy-makers and the community to discuss and share ideas on the matter.
“The environmental issue is an important global issue to be discussed.
“Various initiatives have been done to protect the environment but it still seems that we have failed to create the awareness and better management of it.
“My views on this issue is that the roles of religion and culture must be emphasized to ensure the full protection and preservation of natural resources,” she said.
Wong also said that she believed that every religion, irrespective of race and ancestry, adhere to the principle that every being is a caliph who is responsible to love all god’s creation.
“This clearly shows that any religion would emphasize on environmental protection and reject any kind of exploitation on it.
“The principle of environmental protection must be enforced and implemented across religions,” she said.
The Muzakarah Pakar Maqasid al-Shariah 2017 organised by IDE was themed “Green Development and Environmental Sustainability” and had brought together academicians and relevant parties to discuss the issue.
Also present were IDE Chairman, Dato’ Dr Siddiq Fadzil, IDE Board Member, Dato’ Kamarudin Jaafar and other guests.
31.6 % forest reserve, Selangor exceeds target
