Malaysian youths file landmark climate lawsuit against govt over forest cover pledge and deforestation
KUALA LUMPUR (April 7): Six Malaysian youths have filed a judicial review against the government and the Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, demanding urgent action to halt deforestation and uphold Malaysia’s pledge to maintain at least 50% forest cover.
The suit, lodged on Feb 28, 2026, challenges the government’s alleged failure to safeguard forest commitments made since the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, when then-prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad pledged to keep half of Malaysia’s land under forest cover.
The relief sought include declarations that constitutional rights have been violated, and mandatory orders requiring the government to take all necessary measures, including through the National Land Council to restore and maintain 50% forest cover, with progress updates every 90 days.
The six applicants, aged 18-30, include students and climate advocates from Kuala Lumpur, Sabah, Sarawak and Johor. They were represented by a legal team led by Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan and Lim Wei Jiet.
Additionally, an expert report cited in the application warned that 4.27 to 4.51 million hectares of natural forest were earmarked for conversion, which could reduce forest cover to between 47.4% and 49.6%, thus breaching the 50% threshold.