Azeez Abdul Rahim (BN-Baling) specifically called for Sections 11 and 12 of the Act to be amended.

Section 11 allows state authorities to excise land from a forest reserve if it is required for economic use and if it is not being used as a water catchment area, for flood control or as a wildlife sanctuary.

Section 12 states that the state authorities must replace the land excised from forest reserves.

Azeez said the amendments were necessary for Putrajaya to play a check-and-balance role in the degazetting process by state governments and prevent them from greenlighting such moves at their whims and fancies.

“The powers granted in both Section 11 and 12 should not be fully given to the state governments.

“They should allow the federal government (to intervene and) jointly decide on any matters related to degazettement of forest reserves,” he said when debating a motion filed by energy and natural resources minister Takiyuddin Hassan to amend the Act.

Azeez said these amendments were necessary, citing the clearing of the Gunung Inas forest reserve in his constituency for a Musang King durian farm project.

Multiple parties, including environmental groups and villagers from Baling, had claimed that the durian farm project was the cause of the recent Baling floods, which affected 627 people from 12 villages, and killed three.