World · Malaysia Bureau
Pahang forest reserve degazettement must follow strict conditions
Pahang's Chief Minister has clarified that the removal of land from permanent forest reserves will be subject to formal procedures and conditions. The state has decided to forgo a public inquiry process and does not require replacement land before degazettement occurs.
LSN Malaysia ·
The Pahang state government has outlined its framework for degazetting areas from permanent forest reserves, emphasizing that such decisions will not proceed without adherence to established conditions and procedures, according to the Chief Minister.
The clarification follows the state's recent determination to streamline the degazettement process by eliminating the requirement for public inquiries ahead of land removal from forest reserves. The government has also decided that replacement land provision is not a prerequisite before degazettement can take effect.
Under the revised approach, areas designated for removal from permanent forest reserves must still satisfy specific criteria set by the state administration. The conditions are designed to ensure that degazettement decisions align with state policy objectives and administrative requirements.
The move signals the state government's intention to accelerate the process for converting reserved forestland to other uses, while maintaining that formal safeguards and approval mechanisms remain in place. Officials have not publicly disclosed the specific conditions that will govern individual degazettement applications.