KUANTAN: Permanent forest reserve areas in Pahang should be added every year as a conservation effort, says the Regent of Pahang.

       Tengku Mahkota Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah said he was proud that more than 7,000ha had been added to the forest reserve areas in the state this year making it at least 1.6 million hectares of permanent forest reserve in Pahang.

       "This figure at once crowns Pahang as the state with the largest forest reserve in Peninsular Malaysia. I decree that the state government add on to the permanent reserve areas from time to time every year," he said in his address at the opening of the first meeting of the fifth session of the 14th Pahang state assembly on Monday (March 28).

       Tengku Hassanal said as he had decreed before, he called on all agencies and departments in the state of Pahang to improve the understanding and implementation of the Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) concept.

       "Environmental treasures are for the future generations," he said.

       Tengku Hassanal noted that the establishment of the Pahang Biodiversity Council and the Pahang State Parks Corporation on Jan 1 was timely to conserve and maintain continuous use of biological resources, to control and manage as well as develop the environment, resources and biodiversity of state parks.

       "Now, I am moving forward with a conservation effort of the environment, flora and fauna in our beloved state. This includes initiatives to conserve the Malayan tiger which is at the brink of extinction.

       "If we do not give this appropriate attention, it is not impossible that our children and grandchildren can only see the Malayan tiger on the national coat of arms or the cover of our passport," said Tengku Hassanal.

       He said this effort would not bear fruit if there was no support and implementation strategy from the state government machinery.

       "Therefore, I call on the state assemblymen, the state government, government agencies, the private sector, even associations and non-governmental organisations to be with me in making this initiative a success.

       "In accordance with that, I call for good corporate governance to be observed in carrying out our trust to continue in the conservation of the environment, flora, fauna, earth and our beloved Pahang," said Tengku Hassanal.

       On another note, the Regent said he refused to see any "sick" or delayed projects in Pahang.

       Tengku Hassanal said the state government and Federal Government needed to work closely to implement urgent and high-impact projects under the 12th Malaysia Plan as well as the 2022 Budget.

       "This includes the implementation of flood mitigation projects and the development of disaster warning systems as well as the improvement of the drainage system in locations at high risk of disasters.

       "I decree that all departments and agencies accelerate the implementation of approved projects in compliance with regulations and existing procedures.

       "All received allocations must be spent quickly and correctly so that the people can reap its benefits," he said.