The Organization for the Preservation of Natural Heritage Malaysia (Peka) said it would do so on June 3 to present its suggestions to protect Malaysia’s environment for future generations.
Several other non-governmental organisations and groups such as the Malaysian Nature Society and Parti Sosialis Malaysia have indicated interest in joining in the demonstration.
Among the proposals to be submitted will be the gazetting of Banjaran Titiwangsa as a protected forest, new development restrictions to require builders to preserve the natural landscape and a permanent moratorium on logging.
Speaking at a press conference that included a number of other environmental groups, Peka president Shariffa Sabrina Syed Akil said that it was time to start being more vocal with the government as previous attempts to bring changes had fallen on deaf ears.
“We have carried out so many petitions, but have they worked? Do petitions really work in Malaysia? No.
“Peka carried out a petition for a moratorium on logging activities and we gathered 200,000 signatures, but the government did nothing.”
She added that environmental issues always appeared to be a low priority for policymakers as large-scale development projects aimed at improving the economy had always been given the most attention, in spite of the potential environmental impact.
Along with other NGO representatives present, Shariffa called on all interested organisations to band together as a unified front in confronting the government on issues involving environmental destruction.
Roy Margaret, committee member of the Regional Environmental Awareness Cameron Highlands, said that while all NGOs had done their best in their respective areas, their impact would be magnified under a singular banner.
“Now is the time to come together aggressively and make our points clearly.”
He said while the next generation will undoubtedly suffer from failures to address ecological challenges, “we will also pay the price” in the present day as the effects of environmental damage are already becoming apparent.