Pahang Forest Reserve Degazettement Subject To Conditions, Procedures - MB

KUANTAN, Aug 30 (Bernama) -- The Pahang government has stressed that the process of degazetting Permanent Forest Reserves (HSK) in the state is not carried out arbitrarily, but is subject to strict controls, specific conditions and prescribed procedures.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said the decision not to conduct a public inquiry in the process was made based on the state’s jurisdiction over land and forest management.

He said the approach was not practised by Pahang alone, as several other states had also taken the same step.

“Pahang views land and forests as a state matter, so it is appropriate for the state government to manage them, and besides, we have certain conditions...so far, it has been going well,” he told reporters after attending the Makmur Pahang Initiative Handover Ceremony here today.

He said this when asked to comment on the state government’s decision not to conduct a public inquiry before the degazettement of Permanent Forest Reserves.

Pahang was previously reported to be the fourth state not to adopt two key safeguards under the National Forestry Act (Amendment) 2022, namely the requirement to conduct a public inquiry and provide replacement land before an area is removed from the Permanent Forest Reserve.

Meanwhile, Wan Rosdy said Pahang would introduce an interest-free loan initiative for motorcycle purchases, specifically for youths.

He said the initiative targeted youths aged 18 to 21 who were pursuing studies at public and private higher education institutions (IPTA and IPTS).

“This is an encouragement for our children studying at IPTA or IPTS...this initiative will be tabled in the 2027 Pahang Budget at the upcoming State Legislative Assembly sitting,” he said.

At the ceremony, more than 2,000 high-achieving Pahang students who obtained excellent results in the 2025 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM) and Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) received their respective incentives involving an allocation of RM2.4 million.

-- BERNAMA