The former Johor menteri besar said the status of the island as a national park should have been maintained instead of the land being de-gazetted after its change of status to “sultanate land”.
The Pagoh lawmaker said he became angry when he heard about the Johor government’s decision to revoke Pulau Kukup’s status as a national park.
“The status has slightly changed. As much as they say they are going to do everything to maintain it as a state park, the ownership has changed.
“I would rather appeal to the sultan to let it go back to what it was before. You can say it’s the same but I think people can interpret it otherwise.
“Go back to what it was before it was de-gazetted, then anybody can go in,” he said in a press conference at the PPBM headquarters.
The PPBM president said Pulau Kukup could be better managed under the previous arrangement, adding that there were no issues in the past.
However, he stressed that this was his personal view as a Johorean.
“The Johor National Park Corporation was formed to manage the state park. I think they have been doing that since 1997. The intention was to make sure it would remain forever,” he said.
The Johor state government recently assured that Pulau Kukup would remain as a national park.
Menteri Besar Osman Sapian said following discussions with Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, the ruler had decreed that Pulau Kukup, located in the Pontian district, would remain a national park after becoming sultanate land.
The sultan also decreed that the state government would be required to guard and manage Pulau Kukup using the Johor National Park Corporation.
Pulau Kukup is the second largest uninhabited mangrove island in the world and is listed as a “wetland of international importance” under the Ramsar Convention 1971.
Environmentalists previously warned that its de-gazettement would have serious international implications, including hurting Malaysia’s reputation and affecting funding by international donors.
Pulau Kukup’s status came under scrutiny after it was reported that the Johor government had revoked its status as a national park through a gazette in October.