INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES: THE CASE OF THE MAH MERI TRIBE OF PULAU CAREY, KUALA LANGAT, SELANGOR

The public should be involved in every development process that is planned and carried out in their area to ensure sustainable development. At the national level, the participation of the public in environmental matters is stated in the Environmental Quality Act 1974 and the Town and Country Planning Act 1976. Therefore, as part of the public, indigenous communities such as the Mah Meri people of Pulau Carey must be given the opportunity and space to be involved in the planning, implementation, policy and project/programme evaluation processes that impact their lives. It is important that the indigenous people are involved and given the chance to cooperate in issues that concern the environment in which they live such as the forest. Their knowledge of their living space and their understanding of the surrounding areas make them important stakeholders. They can provide fundamental information that can help authorities understand the area better and prevent serious environmental problems that may arise due to development. This is crucial as the public is the final defense against the destruction of the environment and natural resources. However, the findings of the current study show that there is very little participation and involvement of the indigenous community, namely the Mah Meri community of Pulau Carey, in environmental issues in their area due to the lack of knowledge, understanding and exposure to the issue.