Here is What Ayer Hitam MP Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong says…
He urged the Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry to plant more bamboo around the country.
“One clump of bamboo is able to retain 5,000 litres of water (in the topsoil) for six to nine months, while one hectare of bamboo trees absorbs 50 tonnes of CO2 per year and generates over 30% more oxygen than trees.
“They help stabilise slopes and prevent landslides and floods, which is just what we need right now.
“Is the government doing anything to encourage more bamboo plants?,” said Dr Wee when debating the Royal Address in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (Feb 15).
In reply, Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said that although bamboo plants can mitigate floods, there is however a 15-year moratorium on approvals for new forest plantations enforced by the previous Federal Government last December.
“Unfortunately, planting bamboo is monoculture in nature involving only one plant species and it interferes with forest preservation efforts,” he added. “If we’re speaking of planting them outside of forest reserves, then the Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry will have jurisdiction on it.