KUALA LUMPUR – Environmental groups have warned that expanding quarrying operations at Gunung Kanthan poses a grave threat to the area’s endemic flora and fauna.
Non-governmental organisations, including Sahabat Alam Malaysia, Sahabat Alam Activists’ Association, Perak Natural Heritage Geopark Tour Guides’ Association and Kinta Valley Watch, have jointly expressed concern about the risk to the various species at the Perak geopark.
“When we were informed that the state authority had extended the ownership/lease period of the land to a cement company last year, we were concerned that the Gunung Kanthan geopark would be destroyed,” said Meor Razak Meor Abdul Rahman, a spokesman for the groups.
“As of now, parts of Gunung Kanthan have already been destroyed, namely Area A and Area B.”
Studies have shown that the remaining two areas – Areas C and D – are home to critically endangered (CR) flora and fauna, he said.
“Among the endemic flora species found in the area categorised as CR are Meiogye kanthanensis, Gymnostachyum kanthanensis and Vatica kanthanensi, while the endemic fauna categorised as CR are a prehistoric spider, Liphistius kanthanensi, and a lizard called Cytrodactylus guakanthanensis.”
To allow more quarrying would run counter to the Ipoh Local Plan 2020, which states the Ipoh City Council’s recommendation that the state authority does not approve the expansion of such activities in the area, he said.
Gunung Kanthan is one of the geological heritage geoparks comprising limestone hills in the Kinta Valley National Geopark.
In their statement, the environmental organisations also urged the authorities to protect the Hulu Kinta Forest Eco Park, which is within the Kinta Valley National Geopark as well.
“We found that the geosites have been unmanaged for over 20 years. They have been abandoned,” said Meor Razak.
“Even the surrounding areas are not maintained, causing them to be dominated by foreign (invasive) tree species.
“We hope that the state authority will take action to conserve and maintain the two geoparks in the Kinta Valley National Geopark – namely Gunung Kanthan and the Hulu Kinta Forest Eco Park – so that the ‘national geopark’ status is not revoked.”
The Vibes has reported that the Sakyamuni Cave Monastery, located along the foothills of Gunung Kanthan, faces eviction due to an Order 89 application filed by Associated Pan Malaysia Cement Bhd.
Perak Housing, Local Government and Tourism Committee chairman Datuk Nolee Ashilin Mohamed Radzi was quoted by Bernama as saying last week that there is no issue of awarding or extending contracts to any company to carry out fresh quarrying at Gunung Kanthan.
She said the existing company has not submitted plans to operate at Hills C and D of the mountain to the state Mineral and Geoscience Department. – The Vibes, June 8, 2021
