Bukit Tabur clearing not done by the book: DoE

KUALA LUMPUR – The land-clearing works at Bukit Tabur, which caught public attention recently, were done without proper measures in place to maintain the area’s environment.

Environment Department (DoE) director-general Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaffar said a check found that there was no mitigation works on erosion and sediment control set up by the developers working on the land.

This was concluded after a site visit by the DoE yesterday, aided by the use of drones.

In a statement today, Wan Latiff reminded that any development or land cleaning in areas with a slope of between 25° and 34° must abide by all the provisions under Environmental Quality (Prescribed Activities) (Environmental Impact Assessment) Order 2015.

He added that there can be no development on lands with slopes of 35° and above, unless given special approval by the respective authorities.

“Any party that wishes to conduct the aforementioned activities must carry out an environmental impact assessment (EIA) and get approval before any activity can be done.

“DoE will take stern action against any party that carries out activities without EIA approval, as stipulated under Section 42A of the Environmental Quality Act 1974.”

Those guilty under the provision will face a maximum fine of RM500,000 or five years imprisonment.

Recently, images of land-clearing activity being conducted at a privately owned plot at Bukit Tabur, home to the world’s longest geological quartz formation, went viral, sparking outrage among environmentalists, hikers and residents living nearby the area.

The state government stopped the operation on September 11, seized an excavator used on-site and placed a stone barricade to prevent heavy vehicles from re-entering the location.

On September 13, the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council issued a RM25,000 fine to the landowner involved in the clearing works for conducting the activity without approval.

The landowner was given two weeks to finish remedial works given concerns over floods and erosion.

The council also issued a stop-work order until remedial works are complete, and the landowner was told to put in the permit application. – The Vibes, September 19, 2021