Groups Demand Probe Into Sale Of Forest Lands On The Internet

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A group comprising environmental, human rights and political activists are demanding an investigation into advertisements on the internet promoting the sale of forest land.
This was after a Rimba Disclosure Project (RDP) survey identified and verified 43,539 hectares of forested land in Peninsular Malaysia which were put on sale through 28 listings on various e-commerce websites.
They include land within forest reserves, Central Forest Spine habitat linkages and indigenous customary land which were advertised for conversion to agriculture land with a 99-year lease.
"We demand that authorities investigate the online advertising of the vast tracts of forests in Peninsular Malaysia, purportedly for sale and land-use conversion; and to publicly report the results of the investigation.
"If there is any law that has been broken, legal action must be taken," they said in a joint statement.
They added that all state governments must also ensure the relevant laws, policies and conservation practices are respected to stop rapid deforestation and safeguard against climate change.
They added that property listing sites should also consider it their ethical responsibility to fight against environmental destruction by offering better scrutiny of their listing.
They pointed out that the listing of 43,539 hectares of land was equivalent to nine times the size of Putrajaya.
"This potentially involves the estimated loss of forest carbon density of up to 6,857,550 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
"The sale of forests is inconsistent with Malaysia’s pledge to maintain 50 percent of its total landmass as forest cover, as well as its commitment under the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use to 'halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030', and its responsibilities to prioritise climate action under the Paris Agreement," they said.
They noted that at least three listings described the land and forest for sale as "virgin" while four listings totalling 2,689 hectares were within forest reserves including the Tekam, Lebir and Neggiri forest reserves.
"At least one listing is located directly within a Central Forest Spine (CFS) linkage (PL03), which will impact an essential habitat corridor. Furthermore, the listings in the Tekam, Lebir and Nenggiri forest reserves are located directly within the Greater Taman Negara CFS Forest Complex and the Main Range CFS Forest Complex," they said.
They said some of the listings also involved land in ecologically sensitive areas that are prone to flooding.
"(They include) the Ulu Tembeling region which is highly prone to annual flooding, Gua Musang and Terengganu which are becoming increasingly prone to human-wildlife conflict including livestock and human predation by tigers, and Lojing which is susceptible to landslides," they said.
They added that another 21,000 acres in Muadzam Shah, Pahang forms part of the indigenous customary land in Kampung Berengoi.
"Some listings are being sold under the guise of ‘tanah milik sah kerabat kesultanan’ or ‘tanah kesultanan’ (sultanate land) and warrant further investigation and confirmation," they said.
The joint statement, directed at state menteris besar, the Forestry Department and relevant agencies that govern land in Malaysia, was endorsed by 28 organisations.
They include AJ Rimba Collective, Alliance of River Three, Badan Warisan Malaysia, Centre for Orang Asli Concerns, Greenpeace Malaysia, Klima Action Malaysia, Malaysian Nature Society Selangor, Pertubuhan Pelindunga Khazanah Alam (Peka), Sahabat Alam Malaysia. - Mkini

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