Attorney General Blocks Activists’ Push for Court Order to Enforce 50% Forest Target

A group of six activists lodged a judicial review on Feb 28 demanding a court order to force the Malaysian government to implement measures, including through the National Land Council, to reach a 50% forest-cover target and to provide quarterly progress reports. They also sought a declaration that their rights under Articles 5(1) and 8(1) of the Federal Constitution had been breached. The Attorney General's Chambers, represented by Lim Wei Jiet, argued that forestry is a public-policy matter beyond judicial competence and that the activists lack standing.

High Court judge Azizan Md Arshad set Dec 9 to determine if leave for the review will be granted. Federal counsel Safiyyah Omar appeared for the government, while the Malaysian Bar, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia and WWF submitted watching briefs, and the activists were assisted by lawyers Nevyn Vinosh Venudran and Tharshana Sivananthan.