By Amin Ridzuan Ishak
SHAH ALAM, Dec 11 — The Sultan of Selangor has always advocated for environmental sustainability as a means to ensure the wellbeing of the people.
Due to Selangor’s status as the most developed and most populated state, His Royal Highness Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj makes it a point to emphasise the need for the people to have a balanced lifestyle, one that not only takes from but gives back to the environment.
In Selangor, each and every pollution incident will be talked about as they have the potential to impact the lives of millions.
One incident of pollution at a main water treatment plant would disrupt not just the lives of residents in Selangor but that of consumers across the Klang Valley, who get their water supply from Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Air Selangor).
The Sultan’s concern over the issue of water pollution was evident when he gave consent to amend the Selangor Water Management Authority (Luas) Enactment on Oct 8, last year during the State Legislative Assembly.
The amended law now includes mandatory imprisonment and a maximum penalty of RM1 million for polluters.
The swift action of the Sultan had secured the state’s water resources and helped to ensure its long-term ability to supply water to all its customers.
His Royal Highness’ efforts did not stop there. He has remained supportive of all the state government’s water treatment and preservation projects, including the administration’s decision to channel a substantial allocation to restore one of the state’s water treatment systems.
From time to time, Sultan Sharafuddin would advise the people to use water prudently as part of the state government’s green initiatives.
Long-term goals
Forest conservation has also become a top priority for the Selangor Sultan. His Royal Highness always supports any government or private programmes relating to tree planting.
During the opening ceremony of the Selangor State Legislative Assembly on August 23, the Sultan suggested for the state government to beef up the economy as a preparation to face potential environmental risks such as climate change or natural disasters.
Sultan Sharafuddin suggested that the green agenda should be championed by creating the best and most modern ecosystem to attract green technology investment that is resilient to climate change.
This would also provide new jobs to the people in the state.
His vision and long-term goals prove that he is a leader who moves with the times and one who is committed to science.
With this, Selangor is guaranteed to be able to enjoy the fruits of its progress and simultaneously protect the environment for its future generations.
Forest conservation
The green agenda suggestion from the Selangor ruler is supported by the state government, which prioritises environmental sustainability in each development under its jurisdiction.
This was proven when Selangor became the only state in Malaysia to conduct a public inquiry into plans to degazette a permanent forest reserve.
With a public inquiry taking place, the state government will have to take into account the views of various stakeholders and experts before removing the reserve status of a protected forest.
A thorough investigation would be carried out and a proper legal process would follow, allowing only the best decisions to be made if ever degazettement of a piece of land takes place.
The state government upholds this vital process, even if it means it is exposed to criticism along the way.
This approach has pleased Sultan Sharafuddin. It shows the state government’s true commitment under the leadership of Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari to protect the state’s natural resources and proves that its green agenda is not just rhetoric.
The state administration had also decided to maintain the size of all its forest reserves at nothing less than 30 per cent of the overall size of the state.
On November 11, Amirudin announced that the state’s forest reserve now stands at 31.51 per cent or over 250,000 hectares of Selangor’s overall landmass, after plans to degazette the Kuala Langat North Forest Reserve fell through in September.
Selangor is expected to have another three permanent forest reserves totalling 581.48 hectares soon to protect natural habitats, vital water resources and humidity control.
The selected areas are the Sungai Panjang Forest Reserve in Sabak Bernam; Ampang Pechah in Hulu Selangor and Bukit Broga in Hulu Langat.
This would assist Selangor in achieving its 32 per cent target of forest reserve gazettement by 2025.
Sultan Sharafuddin’s determination to protect the state’s natural resources and habitats is a torch that will hopefully be passed on to future generations for the betterment of Selangor.
This article first appeared in the Selangor Journal monthly December edition, published on December 4, 2021.
