KUALA LUMPUR – Independent forest monitoring watchdog Rimba Disclosure Project (RDP) claimed that more than 5,700ha of Genting Highlands and the surrounding hilly areas have been earmarked for development.
The group said this consisted of 5,000ha noted in the draft of Bentong’s district local plan (RTD), 316ha from the draft of Genting special area plan (RKKK), as well as 248.7ha, 125ha and 14.5ha for three private developments.
“The Genting RKKK proposes developments in areas directly adjacent to Father’s Organic Farm, the site of the landslide. It also proposes constructing a new road up a separate hill (Gunung Bunga Buah) and a contiguous development, including high-rise apartments and houses, from Gohtong Jaya to the peak of Genting Highlands and along the Ulu Kali ridge.
“The Bentong RTD proposes for 5,000ha of mostly mountainous areas east of Genting Highlands and surrounding Janda Baik to be zoned for housing, commercial lots and other non-forest land uses. This land overlaps with environmentally sensitive areas (ESA) rank 1 and 2 zones,” it said in a statement today.
The proposed 125ha private development is in a forest reserve according to government data and overlaps with ESA rank 1 and 2 zones.
The other two plots – 248.7ha and 14.5ha – are ongoing projects and sit respectively in an ESA rank 1 zone and rank 2 zone.
According to the RDP, the Environment Department mandates that: “No development, agriculture or logging shall be permitted except for low-impact nature tourism, research and education” in rank 1 zones and “No development or agriculture, sustainable logging and low-impact nature tourism may be permitted subject to local constraints” in rank 2 zones.
“For public safety, we call on the authorities in Selangor and Pahang to immediately halt all current construction works and permanently abandon the shocking proposals under the Bentong RTD and Genting RKKK, and work to reforest all areas which have since been degraded.
“In relation to the issue of the campsite operator’s licence, the RDP would like to point out that according to official government data, the campsite location is currently zoned for ‘businesses and services’.
“So, those responsible for this zoning and the authorities which approved a farm in such an environmentally sensitive area in the first place should also be held accountable for gross misconduct.”
Yesterday, Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming said the three campsites affected by the deadly landslide in Batang Kali early morning had been operating illegally for at least two years.
He added that the campsites went against the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974, as the operators only had approvals in 2019 from the Hulu Selangor Municipal Council for plans to have organic farms.
The minister also ordered all 155 local councils nationwide to immediately vacate all campsites by the rivers, waterfalls and hillsides for seven days.
The massive landslide that hit the Fathers’ Organic Farm campsite measured 300m in length and 70m in height.
Some 12 people are still missing while 21 bodies have been recovered. A total of 94 victims were affected, seven of which are in hospitals while 61 survived. – The Vibes, December 17, 2022
