oil plantation as the primary cause of deforestation, followed by urbanization at
32%, and mining at 13%. 12 respondents strongly agreed deforestation causes
climate change. Of the 12, 5 were from east, 5 were from West Malaysia, and the
other 2 were from outside of Malaysia. 58% of respondents from outside Malaysia
agreed that deforestation will cause climate change, whereas only 38% from East
Malaysia with 40% of them in West Malaysia agreed that deforestation could cause
climate change. Table 11.3 depicts the results obtained from the respondents who
had participated from outside Malaysia on the negative results that Malaysian
residents report they may face due to deforestation.
As presented in Table 11.3, it can be seen that the respondents from East Malaysia
had the highest percentage value of “strongly agree” that deforestation will cause
landslides, followed by 45% of west Malaysians agreeing to the same.
Table 11.2 Contributors of deforestation
Causes
East Malaysia West Malaysia Outside Malaysia Weighted average
Palm oil plantations 41%
35%
86%
44%
Agricultural
25%
20%
14%
8%
Urbanization
56%
40%
29%
32%
Mining
13%
35%
0%
14%
Logging
3%
5%
0%
2%
Table 11.3 Effects of deforestation
Hometown
East Malaysia
West Malaysia
Outside Malaysia
Climate change
Strongly agree
16%
25%
29%
Agree
22%
15%
29%
Neutral
34%
45%
43%
Disagree
13%
5%
–
Strongly disagree
16%
10%
–
Landslide
Strongly agree
6%
20%
–
Agree
19%
25%
43%
Neutral
47%
30%
43%
Disagree
9%
15%
14%
Strongly disagree
19%
10%
–
Primate extinction
Strongly agree
3%
20%
29%
Agree
19%
10%
29%
Neutral
50%
45%
43%
Disagree
13%
20%
–
Strongly disagree
16%
5%
–
11 Deforestation in Malaysia: The Current Practice and the Way Forward
185