IPOH: Close to half the land in Perak is made up of forest reserves while mangrove swamp areas have increased in the last 12 years, says Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad.
He said a total of 986,862.44ha of land, or 47% of the state, has been gazetted as forest reserves under the National Forestry Act.
“From the figure, 95% or 944,451.81ha is classified as terrestrial forests (hutan darat) and the remaining 42,410.63ha are mangrove swamps.
“Compared to 2010, the mangrove swamp area has increased from 4.1% to 4.3% in 2022,” he said in his reply to Wong May Ing (PH-Pantai Remis) at the Perak state assembly here yesterday.
Saarani added that as at September 2022, no exploration of the new forest areas has been recorded for mining activities.
“Meanwhile about 0.13% or 1,276.02ha has been for agricultural activity, and 5ha was used for industrial purposes.
“The state, through the Forestry Department, is working toward rehabilitating mangrove swamps that were previously been explored for various reasons,” he said.
As an additional question, Ishsam Sharuddin (BN-Ayer Kuning) asked what could be done by the state government if there were valuable mineral sources found in forest reserves.
Saarani said the status of the area as forest reserves can be revoked by the state government.
“If the state government believes that the minerals found there can contribute to revenue for the state, the status of the area can be degazetted,” he said.
“However, once degazetted, the state will need to replace it with another area of the same size,” he added.
Meanwhile, in his winding-up speech at the state assembly sitting, communication, multimedia and non-governmental organisation exco Mohd Azlan Helmi Helmi said Internet transmission towers will be set up at 32 locations across Orang Asli villages in Perak.
He said this is in line with the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission’s National Digital Network (Jendela) initiative to provide better telecommunication services.
“There is a short-term solution under Jendela where 73 selected locations in Orang Asli villages will receive a free Internet connection until the completion of the permanent towers.
“Under Jendela, Perak is the state to receive the highest number of new telecommunication structures, which is 105. We are now waiting for the final approval before construction can start,” he said.
He added that another 27 locations at Orang Asli villages with towers have been proposed for upgrades, and 17 of those have already been upgraded.
Mohd Azlan said in line with the goal to have faster wireless Internet connections across the state, some schools and industrial areas have been selected to be hubs for fibre-optic connectivity.
He added that the Federal Government, through the Communications and Digital Ministry, has an initiative to set up more points-of-presence or access points for fibre-optic connectivity in rural areas.
“Fifty-five schools and three industrial areas have been selected for the project that will be carried out by VC Telecoms Sdn Bhd.
“We expect the project to start next month after it has received approval by the relevant local authorities and agencies involved,” he added.
Also at the state assembly, the anti-hopping law was tabled.
Saarani said tabling the law is needed in line with its enforcement at the Dewan Rakyat and state assembly.
“Under this law, assemblymen who defect from the party they represent as election candidates, or those who become independent, would have to vacate their seats.
“Those who forgo their status as assemblymen (from the party they represent) cannot contest again during the five-year term.
“The same applies to elected independent assemblymen who then join a political party,” he said.
The law is expected to be discussed today during the state assembly sitting.
The Perak assembly sitting comprises 24 Pakatan Harapan assemblymen, nine Barisan Nasional assemblymen, and 26 from Perikatan Nasional.
