KUALA LUMPUR – A viral photo showing damage to Tasik Chini in Pahang due to mining activities there was taken two years ago, claims former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
The Umno parliamentarian said various efforts have since been taken by the authorities to restore the environmentally sensitive lake in his constituency of Pekan.
“I will update the latest situation after I obtain a full briefing in the next couple of days,” he said on Facebook yesterday.
The post was accompanied by a news article dated February 23, 2019, which featured the viral photo of Tasik Chini that shows large parts of the area cleared by human activities.
Malaysians were, however, unimpressed by Najib’s explanation, questioning how the country’s second-largest natural lake had been allowed to be damaged to such an extent, while pointing out that Pahang has always been under Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) control.
“Umno has been the one ruling Pahang since independence. How can the state government approve mining and logging that is this bad?” said netizen Mohammad Riduan Muhammad.
“Does this mean in the past two years, you have not taken any action to address the issue? I pity the residents and environment surrounding Tasik Chini,” posted another social media user, Darren Shan.
IwzvulnJlzvu Rinaz posted: “Pahang was still under BN in 2019. Are you clearing the area to allow (certain people) to plant Musang King (durians)?”
Abuya Ashaari questioned why Najib, despite being the constituency’s MP, had only found out about the issue after the lake was severely damaged.
“By right, you should have known about it from the start. I know you live in KL, but the least you can do is take interest (in the issue) and prevent it from the beginning,” he said.
In a sarcastic comment, Mat Adzim said: “Wow, (you appear) very concerned. With Najib’s power, I believe even the dragon in Tasik Chini can be saved. Vote Najib for environment minister.”
The lake attracted media attention again after Malaysiakini reported that the Pahang government had given its approval to a company linked to a royal family for mining works to commence there, despite plans to rehabilitate the area.
The report claimed that the new mining site will be about 3km from the Unesco Biosphere Reserve, which has in recent years been grappling with mining and logging pollution.
Following damage caused to the lake in recent years, Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail had in March 2019 agreed to gazette Tasik Chini and its surrounding area as a permanent forest reserve.
In June last year, he announced efforts to rehabilitate the lake and said the state will not approve new applications for temporary mining and logging concessions.
In November last year, Pahang gazetted Tasik Chini as a state park and banned all mining and logging activities in the surrounding area to allow for its restoration. – The Vibes, June 10, 2021
