KUALA LUMPUR – Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor has once again asserted that the accumulated rainwater in the Gunung Inas channel is the main cause of the recent floods in Baling.
According to Bernama, he said that the conclusion was reached based on an aerial survey conducted with the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) in the mountain area yesterday, adding that they had not detected any water reservoir breakdown as previously alleged.
“I had the opportunity to board a RMP helicopter to survey the disaster area and I was able to see the flow of water from Gunung Inas to the affected areas and Pekan Kupang,” he said in a statement.
He said that based on observations from the air, a lot of accumulated water was spotted and there were dozens of channels on Gunung Inas which flowed down simultaneously on a steep slope, causing the high speed movement of water in Lata Celak.
Noting that the reservoir in the Musang King durian plantation area was still intact, he said that the large trees along the water course on the mountain were also in place and had not been cut down when the plantation was developed.
He also said that prior to reports from the Irrigation and Drainage Department and the Mineral and Geoscience Department, the inference was that water flowing at high speed on steep slopes from several sources had merged into one at the Lata Celak stream that flows into Sg Kupang.
Sanusi’s statement echoes sentiments he had expressed following the floods when he had called for blame not to be directed towards the durian farms.
Residents of Kg Iboi had previously alleged that the durian project in Gunung Inas was the cause behind the floods, with some claiming that Lata Celak, which used to be a tourist attraction, had “died” following the commencement of the project.
Earlier, the Consumers’ Association of Penang said in a statement that logging and land-clearing to plant Musang King durian trees in Gunung Inas are contributing factors to the severe floods and mudflows in Baling.
The mud floods in Baling on Monday caused hundreds of residents to be evacuated to several relief centres with more than 80 houses affected.
The bodies of three missing family members, including a four-month pregnant woman, were found the next day after strong currents swept their house away when floods hit Kg Iboi, Kupang. – The Vibes, July 7, 2022
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