Why could no authority confirm SACF was legally degazetted?

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No Authority Could Confirm Legal Degazettement of Bukit Cerakah Forest Reserve

Despite a public hearing session at the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) headquarters, authorities were unable to provide a definitive confirmation on whether the Bukit Cerakah Forest Reserve (SACF) has been legally degazetted. This lack of clarity has raised concerns regarding the legality of any proposed developments on the land.
Public Objections and Lack of Official Clarification

During a public feedback exercise for the MBSA's 2035 local plan draft, which included proposals for a road and a cemetery on the forest reserve land, a significant number of objections were raised by the public. The MBSA received 718 objections for the road proposal and 195 for the cemetery. Following these submissions, the hearing concluded with Ng Sze Han stating that MBSA would conduct an in-depth investigation into the legal status of the forest. However, representatives from Pejabat Tanah Petaling, who were present, were also unable to clarify the matter, and the Selangor Forestry Department (JPNS) did not attend the hearing.
Historical Context and Legal Status Ambiguity

The Bukit Cerakah Forest Reserve originally encompassed 23,826 acres, but by October 2020, its net area had reduced to 6,482 acres due to extensions and excisions. Despite this reduction, the SACF Society discovered that parts of the area still remained designated as a forest reserve, yet development, including road construction, had proceeded. Teckwyn Lim, an adjunct lecturer, highlighted the potential illegality of such developments in the absence of any official degazettement notices. This situation suggests that if the forest has not been properly degazetted through the required procedures, including public consultation as mandated by Selangor state forestry laws, any development by MBSA or other parties would be unlawful.
Potential Procedural Irregularities

State Tourism, Environment, Green Technology and Indigenous People’s Affairs Committee chairman Hee Loy Sian suggested that the degazettement process for SACF and surrounding forested areas between 2002 and 2007 may not have been conducted correctly, citing a similar encountered case. The SACF Society, supported by over 66,000 signatures from an online petition, has proposed an alternative plan to designate SACF as a full-fledged Urban Community Forest. Their lawyers submitted detailed findings to the Selangor State Secretary and Selangor Forestry Department in November 2020, asserting that the area remains a Permanent Forest Reserve and cannot be developed without due public consultation to alter its status. To date, no response has been received from these departments to refute the society's claims.

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Why could no authority confirm SACF was legally degazetted?

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