KUALA LUMPUR: FRASER’S Hill will suffer the same fate as Cameron Highlands if the authorities continue with their lackadaisical attitude in preserving the lush forests and its sensitive eco-system.
Environmentalists, residents and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) said it was mind-boggling that the Pahang Forestry Department had issued a temporary stop order only on logging at the hill months after such activity was detected.
Outraged Netizens also questioned how logging was allowed on or near the hill, which had been gazetted as a primary forest reserve and water catchment area.
Association for the Protection of the Natural Heritage of Malaysia (Peka) president Puan Sri Shariffa Sabrina Syed Akil said the clearing of huge tracts of forest land at Kampung Bukit Telaga, near the foot of Fraser’s Hill, had shocked residents and environmental groups.
She said land clearing, which had been going on for the past two months, was detected only on Aug 21 when a man was killed by a huge rock that fell on him at the project site.
The victim, Seow Ah Kiat, 63, was visiting the site with his son when a landslide occurred and the boulder fell on him. His son escaped unharmed.
Shariffa said environmentalists and NGOs were then alerted to what was happening at the hill.
“We have lost Cameron Highlands due to rampant deforestation and agriculture, but Fraser’s Hill has retained its beauty and serenity until now. There is also a thriving bio-diversity at the hill, with lots of bird species spotted.
“We should not destroy the hill. It is important to keep Fraser’s Hill as a natural heritage,” she told the New Straits Times.
It was reported that the Pahang Forestry Department had issued a stop order on all logging activities near the hill.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar had reportedly said that the order, issued on Sept 8, covered the removal of logs and construction of roads to logging sites.
He said the order was issued pursuant to objections by Peka to logging in the area that measured 106.78 hectares. Wan Junaidi said the plot was state government land with mining lots within the Batu Talam Forest Reserve, which was about 15km from Fraser’s Hill.
He also said the Pahang Forestry Department had issued a licence for the plot effective July 15 to Jan 14 next year.
Wan Junaidi said works carried out in the area involved constructing a 1.7km road.
He said the contractor had removed all machinery from the area on Sept 13, and only broken ones were left behind.
Shariffa said her group’s campaign against the development of Fraser’s Hill would not stop, adding that Peka would continue to monitor the site to ensure that no land-clearing activities were carried out.
“We will keep putting pressure on those involved until we get an assurance that they will completely stop any development on Fraser’s Hill.”
Shariffa said Peka had also lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission. An MACC spokesman confirmed receiving the report and said the graftbusters were looking into it.