FINAL VERSION FOR APPROVAL - Sdn Bhd - WWF Malaysia

Gunung Stong State Park Preliminary Management Plan
“State Park”, to the existing categories of protection forest reserves. In Perak, the state
legislation for the establishment of state parks, the Perak State Parks Corporation Enactment
2001, was based on the Johor model.
The selection of protected legislation is up to the respective state governments. The National
Parks Act 1980 was not popular with the states as it was perceived that establishing a
protected area under this legislation would mean losing control of the gazetted area to the
Federal Government. There was also the perception that to degazette a protected area under
Federal control needs Cabinet approval, whereas, if the state manages the protected area,
there is more flexibility if there happens to be a need for degazettement.
Thus, the states of Johor, Perak, and Selangor opted to form their own State Parks
Corporation. Nevertheless, there are disadvantages: state-managed protected areas in the
peninsula are less well-managed than their counterparts in Sabah and Sarawak, due to lack of
resources – in funding opportunities, in experience in protected area management – and lack
of long-term career prospects and other benefits that attract prospective employees.
Also, managing protected areas is beyond the skills of most state civil service officers who
are mostly public administrators. As a temporary measure, state-managed protected areas
frequently employ Federal officers from DWNP and the Forestry Department on a temporary
basis, though in some cases there are officers with the right technical background that join on
a contractual basis; perhaps a reflection of passion for conservation work, job scarcity, or
both, rather than career incentives or benefits.
Nevertheless, as an incentive to the states, the National Parks Act 1980 was amended in 1993,
giving power to the State Authority in certain activities (and limiting the power of the Federal
Minister): in revoking all or part of the protected area [Section 3(3)], in leasing or occupation
[Section 9(1)], construction of public and tourism facilities, and mining [Section 10(2)]. The
power of the Federal Minister is further reduced in Section 11 (1): The Federal Minister needs
to consult the State Authority, if there are regulations to be made which are not consistent
with the Act.
Previously, the State Authority needs the concurrence of the Federal Minister for all the
activities mentioned in Sections 3(3), 9(1), and 10(2), but after the amendment, the state only
needs to consult the Federal Minister; there is no need for his concurrence. Nevertheless,
even with the amendments to parts of Sections 3(3), 9(1), and 10(2), states are still not keen to
establish protected areas under the National Park Act 1980.
1.5 Kelantan Context
1.5.1 Historical Background
Hemmed in by the sea in the north, and jungle-clad mountains in the east, south, and west,
Kelantan was until recently isolated from the west coast states of the peninsula. In the past,
her affinities have been to the ancient states then predominant in Indochina (Langkasuka,
Champa and Funan) and until recent times, her history has been interlinked with the royal
house of Greater Pattani in South Thailand. Kelantan was under Siamese suzerainty until the
early 1900s, when it was transferred to Great Britain as part of the Unfederated Malay States.
Subsequently, Kelantan, together with the other states in the Malay peninsula, formed the
Federation of Malaya during independence in 1957.
Since independence until the late 1970’s, development had largely by-passed the state, as
growth was more concentrated in the west coast states due to greater communications and
mineral resources there. The mountainous barriers to the south, east, and west of the state and
the sea limit access, and hence, investments to the state, until the completion of the East-West
Highway and the Kuala Lumpur-Gua Musang federal road.
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