KUALA LUMPUR, April 15 -- Selangor could face catastrophic environmental destruction if the planned development in the Shah Alam Community Forest Area (SACF) is not implemented in a controlled manner, Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad reportedly warned.

Nik Nazmi pointed out that the risk of disasters such as major floods could occur like in Kelantan when its government decided to modify the Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) involving an area of 514,898 hectares, Utusan Malaysia reported.

"There is much more biodiversity and wildlife, we hope that the matter can be given serious attention by the state government," he was quoted saying, referring to the value of forests in urban areas.

"If...