Great initiative: Saarani (centre) looking at products on display during the state-level Jelajah Halal Malaysia 2023 programme which was held in Ipoh. Looking on is Halal Development Corporation chairman Khairul Azwan Harun (right). — Bernama
IPOH: Land clearing works at the Bubu Forest Reserve near Kuala Kangsar is only being carried out after obtaining the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval, says Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad.
He said the 400ha of land was de-gazetted, and handed over to the state Agricultural Development Corporation to develop farms for youth under the agri-entrepreneurs food security programme.
The project, said Saarani, could not be halted just like that as this would affect the state government’s plans to increase youth’s participation in the agriculture sector.
“I assure the residents staying near the area that the deforestation works will be carried out in stages. People do not need to be worried as the area will not be exposed to flooding.
“We have learnt from our previous experiences,” he told reporters after the Jelajah Halal Malaysia 2023 programme here yesterday.
On Nov 24, residents in Manong had expressed their concerns after they spotted heavy machinery in the Bubu Forest Reserve.
They also saw an access road that had already been built into the forest reserve and believed that logging was bound to take place.
The residents feared that what happened in Baling, Kedah, which saw muddy floods that killed four people in July 2022, could happen in their area.
Saarani also assured the residents that any land clearing works would not be carried out during the rainy season.
“We will make sure that the project follows all the necessary procedures, including the planting of new trees and following all conservation methods to avoid erosion,” he said.
On the event, Saarani said the state government expected to see over 1,000 companies with the halal certification set up by 2030.
He said as at March, 882 companies with the certification were already operating in Perak. Nationwide, there are a total of 10,000 companies.
The state Islamic Religious Department was also currently processing 300 halal certification applications, he added.
Saarani said the announcement of Perak’s Halal Industrial Park in Lekir on Aug 21 was a strategic move by the state government to drive the development of the increasingly important halal industry at the international level.
