KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 1,074 permanent forest reserve areas in the Peninsular, equivalent to over 53,700 football fields, were illegally cleared as of December 31 last year.
Natural Resources and Environment Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said the illegal land clearing, a violation under the National Forestry (Amendment) Act, covered 38,376 hectares.
In a written parliamentary reply, Nik Nazmi said the land was cleared for various purposes including agriculture, plantations, aquaculture, mining, property and infrastructure development.
Some land was also cleared for gravesites, recreational activities, food stalls and houses of worship.
He said illegal land clearing in permanent forest reserves was an offence under Section 32 of the National Forestry Act.
Section 81 of the same act makes it an offence to log, release livestock, catch fish, or engage in other prohibited activities within a permanent forest reserve.
"Anyone who breaks the law can be fined up to RM100,000 and jailed for up to seven years or both."
He was responding to a question from Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (PN-Arau) regarding the extent of illegal clearing in forest reserves and replanting efforts.
Nik Nazmi said that amendments to the act, gazetted on September 20, 2022, strengthened enforcement powers and increased fines for offences.
He also said the government has allocated RM100 million to restore over 1,640 hectares of forest in the Peninsular that were damaged by land clearing and natural disasters.