KUALA LUMPUR: THE Association for the Protection of Natural Heritage of Malaysia (Peka) believes that the mudslide at the Kuala Lumpur–Karak Highway was due to excessive logging and land clearing in Hutan Simpan Lentang and the surrounding areas.
It said it had warned and pleaded with the authorities last year to stop the environmentally-damaging activities. In a letter to Tenaga Nasional Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Seri Azman Mohd on Jan 20 last year, it protested against the project near Lentang, Pahang. Peka had detailed why it had to be halted immediately and what would happen if the project was continued.
It warned of the ecological effects which would lead to the extinction of flora and fauna and how exposing the land to torrential rain could lead to river pollution, turn it murky brown and cause mud floods. Peka said there could be erosion of the riverbed and landslides.
Copies of the letter were sent to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and others.