The Friends of Kota Damansara (FOKD) and the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) had a dialogue session on 2nd Mac 2008, with Dr Nasir the candidate for DUN Kota Damansara and Sdr.Sivarasa as the Parliament Subang candidate on the issue of Sungai Buloh Forest Reserve. About 70 people turned out for this dialogue session. These groups highlighted their case and displayed their frustrations toward the continues lies of BN led government.
FOKD had been opposing the government onslaught on the forest reserve by degazetting the Sg. Buloh Forest Reserve for the purpose of the so called development. In 1898 the colonial government gazetted 6,590ha of the land as Sungai Buloh Forest Reserve for the public. After 100 over years, the government continued to degazette the rest of the land for development leaving a tiny piece of about 26.9ha for the people. The effect of ongoing unplanned development will be catastrophic, resulting in massive congestion, flash floods and climactic changes. The destruction of the fauna and flora of the forest reserve is irreversible and a lost heritage for the communities of Kota Damansara and the surrounding areas.
According to recently published PJ Local Draft Paln 2 (RTPJ2), about 40ha forested area in Kota Damansara will be turned into a recreational area. Without due consultation with the people, the BN government alienated another 58.8ha and earmarked it for the Muslim Cemetary, leaving only 26.9ha. These groups realized that strong capitalist tendencies for profits will wipe out all previous promises, and this small piece of forest land, this mini Taman Negara will eventually cease to exist.
These groups wanted to know how Sivarasa and Dr Nasir as future representatives would react to such encroachment of the forest. Both of them gave their opinion and received resounding support from the audience. The candidates promised that they would fight 'tooth and nail' to preserve the green lung and fight to degazette the land to it original status. Their presence will ensure the continuance of the struggle to preserve the forest reserve.
Dr Nasir mentioned that the group must ensure that potential candidates must commit themselves on paper and to his surprise they had already taken such initiative. Dr Nasir commended them and mentioned that his Party, Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM) had already incorporated such initiative in its own Manifesto 2008. He told the crowd that if he didn't fulfill his duty as people's representative then the onus of the group is to take him to task and sue him in court. His action showed his sincerity but he would not make promises merely to win the DUN seat and will continue to serve the people. Dr Nasir and Sivarasa signed the agreement. The audience was fully satisfied.
As a socialist, Dr Nasir has never failed to be with the people. Since his early days as an activist he continues to practice the socialist ideology. Later some volunteers from the various group approached him personally to praise his forthright approach as the people's representative. The residents showed their support and commented to him 'Dr, saya mesti undi kamu'.
As socialists often say, we must "Change the System not the Climate". Capitalism with its disdain for the environment has caused massive destruction around the world and sparking global warming, flash floods, miseries and death The very nature of capitalism in its race for profit maximization, will finally lead to the destruction of the green lung, unscrupulous hill slope development leading to erosion and flash floods, made worse by improper overall planning. Only a planned socialist development will earnestly incorporate the concept of " Planet before Profits' in its planning to safeguard the environment.
Bilik Gerakan Kota Damansara