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Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Climate
- Free Malaysia Today
Protect Shah Alam's forests to curb floods, group tells Selangor govt
About 180 homes were affected and more than 100 residents evacuated after flash floods hit Taman Bukit Kemuning in Shah Alam this morning. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Environmental group Peka has urged the Selangor government to take immediate action to protect forested areas to prevent recurrent flash floods around Shah Alam. Its president, Rajesh Nagarajan, called for a halt to any clearing or development in forest areas regardless of their gazetted status. He said the forests act as crucial water catchments and flood buffers for areas like the Shah Alam community. Rajesh urged the authorities to re-gazette environmentally sensitive zones for their permanent protection, as well as to enforce strict no-development zones on steep slopes and water catchment areas. He said the Shah Alam community forest – a 174ha lowland rainforest stretching from Sections U10 to U13 – is being fragmented by encroachments, despite being part of a wildlife corridor. 'The loss of tree cover and soil permeability has led to increased runoff, overwhelmed drainage systems and accelerated flood risks,' he said in a statement. This follows the flash floods at Taman Bukit Kemuning in Shah Alam this morning, affecting about 180 homes and forcing more than 100 residents to evacuate. Motorists were also reportedly stuck at the Kota Kemuning toll plaza. Rajesh said these floods were not isolated weather anomalies. He cited the many incidents around the area as key examples, including one instance in April involving Taman Sri Muda and Taman Melawis. He also pointed to the devastating December 2021 floods, which forced the evacuation of 400,000 people and resulted in nearly 50 deaths. 'These floods are not natural disasters, they are man-made. The forests were our protection and we have destroyed them. 'This is not just an environmental issue, but a human one. The destruction of forests has led directly to property damage, economic loss, and community hardship,' he said.
Free Malaysia Today
5 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Stop Bukit Gasing deforestation or we'll sue, NGO tells MBPJ
Peka president Rajesh Nagarajan (sixth from left, standing) with residents and hikers from Petaling Jaya and Bukit Gasing at the MBPJ building today. PETALING JAYA : An environmental group today warned that it would take legal action against the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) if it did not halt the development activity in Bukit Gasing. Peka president Rajesh Nagarajan said four weeks was 'more than enough time' for MBPJ to stop the development, which he claimed involved the extensive felling of trees on steep slopes. 'If we do not see any improvement, we will have no choice but to go to court,' he told reporters at a gathering outside the MBPJ headquarters here. Peka also handed over a memorandum urging MBPJ to take immediate action and stop further activity in what it said was the last green lung in Petaling Jaya. NGO secretary-general Vimala Raghavan claimed that several landslides had already been reported and said continued clearing could endanger lives. 'No more landslides. Our lives matter. If you kill the forest and the animals, do you think we can live? No way at all,' she said. Vimala also said that monkeys, whose habitats had been destroyed, were now seen roaming the streets in search of food. The protest was joined by a group of residents and hikers from Bukit Gasing and Petaling Jaya, who echoed Peka's call for an immediate end to all logging and development activities in the area. Rajesh asked how the project had received approval, given the history of landslides and high rainfall in the area. 'You are destroying the forest. Bukit Gasing is the last green lung we have in Petaling Jaya. If you destroy it, we'll be left with a concrete jungle,' he said.
Free Malaysia Today
08-06-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Penang to expand 5% housing discount beyond Indian Muslim buyers
Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow said the state executive council will make a decision that 'serves the interests of all parties'. PETALING JAYA : Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow says the state government is looking to extend its recently announced 5% housing discount for Indian Muslims to all communities. Chow said he had received feedback that the discount should be offered to all home buyers with the aim of revitalising the property sector, particularly in relation to unsold units. 'In response, I have directed state executive councillor for housing and environment S Sundarajoo to work with developers to refine the policy with a view of extending the discount to all buyers,' he said in a statement. 'This would make the initiative more inclusive and beneficial to all segments of society, in line with the principles of social justice.' He said the state executive council will review the matter in detail and make a decision that 'serves the interests of all parties'. The discount was announced on Thursday by Sundarajoo, who said private developers will be encouraged to voluntarily offer a 5% discount to first-time Indian Muslim homebuyers for one year as part of a state housing campaign. The initiative was criticised by human rights lawyer Rajesh Nagarajan, who called the campaign discriminatory and unconstitutional. Sundarajoo defended the discount, saying it did not infringe on the rights of other communities and was purely aimed at increasing homeownership among groups with low participation in the open market. He also said developers would offer the discount as a form of corporate social responsibility and this would not involve the state government's funds.
Daily Express
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Rights lawyer slams Penang's ‘racist' housing discount
Published on: Friday, June 06, 2025 Published on: Fri, Jun 06, 2025 By: FMT Reporters Text Size: Lawyer Rajesh Nagarajan urged the DAP-led Penang government to immediately withdraw the initiative and warned against policies that could deepen racial and religious divisions. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA: A human rights lawyer has criticised the Penang government's decision to offer a 5% discount on homes exclusively to Indian Muslims under the Madani Home Ownership Campaign (MOC), calling it discriminatory and unconstitutional. Rajesh Nagarajan said the policy unfairly favoured a specific race and religion which undermined the principles of equality enshrined in the Federal Constitution. Advertisement 'This initiative is deeply divisive and unacceptable. 'Why is the Penang state government rewarding Indians who are of the Islamic faith and punishing those who are of the Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, Baha'i or Sikh faith? If this is not discrimination, I don't know what is,' he said in a statement. He cited Articles 8(1) and 8(2) of the Federal Constitution, which guarantee that all persons are equal before the law and entitled to equal protection, regardless of religion, race, or descent. Rajesh also took aim at state housing and environment committee chairman S Sundarajoo, accusing him of practising 'state-sanctioned racial discrimination' and setting a dangerous precedent. 'Public funds and state-backed initiatives must benefit all Malaysians equally, and must not be used for preferential treatment for selected groups. It is clearly a racist policy,' he said. He urged the DAP-led Penang government to immediately withdraw the initiative and warned against policies that could deepen racial and religious divisions. 'This is not an apartheid country where certain races are more equal than others,' he added. Yesterday, Bernama reported that the Penang government would offer a discount to Indian Muslims who purchased residential and commercial units under the MOC, from June 1, 2025, to May 31, 2026. Sundarajoo said the initiative, approved at a state planning committee meeting on Wednesday, was aimed at boosting home ownership, supporting the approval of strategic new projects, and creating a more inclusive and competitive property sector.
Malaysiakini
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Penang's Indian Muslim housing discount sparks lawyer's ire
Human rights lawyer Rajesh Nagarajan has sharply criticised the Penang state government's decision to offer an exclusive five percent housing and commercial property discount to Indian Muslims under the Madani Home Ownership Campaign (MOC), branding the move as discriminatory and unconstitutional. 'This initiative is deeply divisive, discriminatory, and unacceptable. It blatantly favours one particular race and religious group at the expense of others and runs contrary to the...
