ALOR SETAR - The forest reserve on Gunung Inas was de-gazetted and converted to agricultural land by the Barisan Nasional administration in 2007 and later branded as Ladang Sejahtera by the Pas government, said Pejuang leader Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir.
The Jerlun MP said the Islamist party took over in 2008 and the land was cleared to plant timber latex clone (TLC), a rubber tree planted for latex and timber.
He added later during the administration of then Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah, Musang King durians were planted.
He said Kedah Agro Sdn Bhd, the state government-linked company was entrusted to plant durians on the mountain during Bashah’s term but failed to complete the project before a private company took over.
"The private company was then appointed to take the responsibility but it was bought over by a private developer. During Bashah's term from 2016-2018, Musang King was allowed to be planted on Gunung Inas," he said in his statement.
The Jerlun MP hopes there are no parties accusing him and the state government while he was ruling Kedah to cloud the truth.
"The comments regarding the musang king durian plantation is considered to be one of the reasons for natural disasters to take place however, the permanent forest reserve status in Mount Inas was changed to agricultural land by the BN government in 2007 and was rebranded as Ladang Sejahtera by Pas government in 2008.
He said to start any new plantation, the existing trees must be chopped down first before replanting.
He questioned whether an environmental impact assessment was carried out when the mountain was cleared for the replanting project.
Mukhriz was Kedah menteri besar from May 2013 to February 2016 under BN and again from May 2018 to May 2020 under Pakatan Harapan, and had objected to the Ladang Sejahtera project.
"I objected because the forest reserve was being affected. The experience of the Ladang Rakyat project in Kelantan by the Pas government shows the lack of seriousness to curb flooding in the state.
"The disaster would not happen if forest reserve was untouched," he said.
Meanwhile, Mukhriz, the Pejuang president extended his condolences to Baling's July 4 flood victims. In 2012, Baling villagers had called for the project to be scrapped. The project was then halted in 2020 to replant trees in the area.
On July 4, a three-hour downpour caused the waters of Sungai Kupang in Baling to overflow into residential areas. At least three people have died, including a pregnant woman, with thousands of others displaced in what is said to be the worst floods to hit the district.