Cameron Highlands will always have environmental issues as long as there are "tidak apa" people in the government approving project without a care. Perhaps the lack of transparency in approving projects or some other undesirably elements (you know what I mean, the sad state of affairs in this country won't be solved overnight). Cameron Highlands will not be the only affected place, there are so many examples of gross neglect in preserving the environment in every part of Malaysia. Once this blows over, it will just be a footnote in the government. Sheesh...
Stop project in Cameron
Tuesday January 12, 2010
GEORGE TOWN: The Kampung Tersusun (Melayu) Anggerik project in Cameron Highlands should be cancelled to prevent tragedies related to hill development.
Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) president S.M. Mohamed Idris said that although the authorities’ move to issue a stop work order was positive, they should in fact put an end to the project.
"The project should not have been approved by the authorities as it falls under Class 4 (above 35 degrees gradient) slopes.
"There should not be any form of physical development in this environmentally sensitive area," he said.
Mohamed Idris, who is also Consumers’ Association of Penang president, was commenting on The Star’s front page report headline, "Hillside hazard" which said phase one of Kampung Tersusun (Melayu) project had encroached into 'forbidden’ zones. The proposed settlement scheme fell on a hilly terrain within Mentigi Forest Reserve and Gunung Jasar.
Mohamed Idris said that in view of the grave danger and previous tragedies in highland areas, it was vital the proposed development be relocated to a safer location.
"The authorities should also take firm action to ensure that the developers undertake rehabilitation of the exposed slopes," he said in a statement. -- Star News
Bureau urged to do own probe on environmental complaints
Wednesday January 13, 2010
PETALING JAYA: The Public Complaints Bureau's (PCB) over-reliance on feedback from government agencies that it is investigating can undermine its ability to resolve recurring problems of over-development in Cameron Highlands.
"I don't think the bureau is doing a thorough job. It is overly reliant on agencies against which complaints were levelled for clarification.
"It should be more proactive in handling complaints, like analysing all angles of mismanagement," said R. Ramakrishnan, the president of environmental watchdog Regional Environmental Awareness Cameron Highlands (Reach).
He said that from his experience in handling environmental-related complaints filed with PCB, the bureau wrote to the agencies concerned for comments.
"For instance, the slopes on Gunung Jasar clearly fall into the category of environmentally-sensitive area, where no physical development is to be allowed, and this is noted in the Local Plan, a document prepared by the district council itself," he said in response to a Starprobe article on the proposed settlement scheme in Tanah Rata.
The scheme, Kampung Tersusun (Melayu) Anggerik, is to be undertaken by the chairman of the Desa Anggerik Development Committee and claimed on its signboard that it had obtained the work permit from the Land Office.
District officer Datuk Mohamad Noor Abdul Rani, who is in charge of the Land Office, however, has refused to comment on the matter.
Local residents have petitioned for the project to be relocated as the development could destabilise the steep hillside. -- Star News
Contractor erred during earthworks
Thursday January 14, 2010
KUANTAN: The contractor who carried out earthworks in a settlement scheme that apparently encroached into a hilly terrain within the Mentigi Forest Reserve and Gunung Jasar did not put in place mitigation measures.
State Local Government, Environment and Health Committee chairman Datuk Hoh Khai Mun said the contractor, who started earthworks on May 4, did not have measures such as a siltation pond, causing silt to flow into a nearby creek.
"A stop-work order was issued on May 8 last year and no work has been done since as the authorities are not satisfied with the contractor's mitigation steps," he said after a state exco meeting here yesterday.
The Star highlighted the adverse environmental effects following earthworks carried out for the Kampung Tersusun (Melayu) Anggerik project, which is a new settlement in Cameron Highlands.
Silt and uprooted old growth during land clearing had affected the creek's water quality while nearby residents had expressed concern over the site, described as an "environmentally sensitive area".
It was also reported that the project was undertaken by the Desa Anggerik Development Committee chairman and a building plan indicated that there would be 80 lots on a 13ha area.
Hoh said an application for a land clearing permit was submitted to the land and district office about three months earlier by Sabri Saad, a Desa Anggerik committee representative.
He said the Drainage and Irrigation Department had, in its feedback, stated that the DID had no objection to the application as the creek was small.
"A permit was issued on April 17 last year with various conditions and that the department would monitor the progress," Hoh said, adding that the stop-work order was issued following a complaint from the DID.
However, Hoh denied the scheme had encroached into the reserve, adding that it was actually located within a Malay reserve area gazetted on Nov 19, 1998.
He said the creek was also not feeding into Sungai Terla, which was the main source of water for Cameron Highlands, as the site was located downstream from the river and the temporary occupation licences were only for 76 individuals on an 8ha land.
Hoh said he would meet the district officer today.
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