KUALA LUMPUR – The Natural Resources, Environment, and Climate Change Ministry will propose the establishment of a special team to conduct regular monitoring and enforcement on development projects in Cameron Highlands, Pahang.
Its minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said the team, comprising various agencies and headed by the Pahang Land and Mines Department, is an additional measure taken by the ministry to monitor the field area.
“The setting up of the team is to ensure that any project subject to environmental impact assessment (EIA) requirements receives the EIA report from the Environment Department (DoE) before approval.
“The Minerals and Geoscience Department will also examine the hazard and risk assessment of the landslides by implementation carried out by relevant authorities,” he said in a statement today.
In addition, the Minerals and Geoscience Department will lead the slope monitoring team to monitor current conditions on the ground and assess the extent of landslide risk, as well as follow up on agricultural works near the area, including mitigation measures.
Recently, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah decreed that all hill-slope development projects in Cameron Highlands be carefully studied and monitored since excessive development can invite natural disasters.
A mudslide reportedly occurred in Kg Raja Pekan Housing, Cameron Highlands, on August 30 last year, affecting one house, followed by two more landslides in the same area on November 17 and December 20, respectively.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the landslides were likely caused by farming activities near the area.
Nik Nazmi said the DoE investigation of development projects in Cameron Highlands revealed that 16 projects had received EIA approval and are regularly monitored by the DoE.
Meanwhile, the minister informed that the DoE had conducted an investigation into the project that caused the mud flood in Kg Raja town on December 20, and found that the project developer did not seek approval for the EIA report before any work was carried out.
Accordingly, he said the DoE has issued a directive under Sections 31 and 37 of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 directing the project developer to stop all work at the site until an EIA has been carried out.
“The project developer has also been directed to take remedial measures to prevent mud flows and investigation papers are being prepared for prosecution in court,” he said. – Bernama, January 10, 2023
