PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Court, in a 2-1 majority decision, dismissed an appeal by two non-governmental organisations (NGOs) challenging the degazettement of Bukit Cherakah as a forest reserve. Court of Appeal President Datuk Seri Abu Bakar Jais and Federal Court Judge Datuk Rhodzariah Bujang formed the majority in dismissing the appeal, while Federal Court Judge Datuk Lee Swee Seng delivered a dissenting judgment on Wednesday (April 1). On Sept 9, 2024, the apex court granted the two NGOs leave to appeal against the dismissal of their judicial review application challenging the matter. In 2022, the Shah Alam High Court denied the NGOs leave to commence a judicial review of the Selangor government's decision to degazette 406.22 hectares of Bukit Cherakah. Their subsequent appeal was dismissed by the Court of Appeal on Jan 24, 2024, on the grounds that the judicial review application had been filed out of time.

Source: The Star April 01, 2026 17:38 UTC