KUALA LUMPUR – The campsite operators at Father’s Organic Farm, the location of a fatal landslide which has claimed 24 lives so far, had attempted to apply for a campsite permit but were told by several government authorities that such a licence does not exist.
Campsite spokesperson Frankie Tan claimed that various government entities, such as the Agriculture Department, had conveyed to him that it was not necessary for campsite managers to apply for site licences.
“The officer said there is no such thing as a (campsite) permit because the campsite is not a permanent structure like a hotel, so there is no licence to apply for,” Malaysiakini quoted Tan as saying during a press conference yesterday.
“It is not that we don’t want to apply (for a campsite permit) but there was no way for us to apply for one.
“As the operator, we would not shirk our responsibilities.”
Besides stressing that he was unaware of the campsite section being classified as a high-risk area, he asserted that the “crush of soil” from the landslide incident had begun on “government land” about 2 to 3km from the campsite.
Following the tragic landslide on December 16 which saw a total of 94 victims, nine of which are still missing, Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming said that the campsite affected by the disaster was operating without a licence from the Hulu Selangor District Council.
He added that the operators involved could face up to three years in prison and a maximum fine of RM50,000.
The Vibes has reached out to Nga for comment on the matter but has yet to receive a response as of press time.
It was also reported earlier that police had called up the campsite operator and two of its workers to assist in probes into the landslide tragedy.
The earthfall, measuring nearly 300m in length and 70m in height, had hit the campsite located in a canyon below the Batang-Gohtong Jaya road here around 2.42am on Friday.
The operators subsequently took to Facebook to express their condolences over the incident, saying they “humbly bow” to everyone affected. – The Vibes, December 20, 2022
