KUALA LUMPUR: The government should take immediate action to halt developments and freeze all new planning permits in Cameron Highlands, including the recently proposed theme park in Habu.
The Association for the Protection of the Natural Heritage of Malaysia (Peka) said such measures should have been taken a long time ago.
Its president, Damien Thanam Divean, said the move was vital to facilitate a proper study on the popular tourist destination, which — known for its microclimate cool temperature — was reported to be gradually losing its charm with warmer climate reported there.
In expressing support for Regional Environmental Awareness Cameron Highlands' (REACH) call to temporarily stop developments there, Damien said the proposed study must include views from the public, non-governmental organisations and business communities.
"A previously adopted method of data gathering may no longer be relevant as global warming, climate change, extreme weather, pollution related to human activity, destruction of natural forest areas and hydroelectric dams may have created irreversible damage to the highland ecosystem."
Damien said the "health" of Cameron Highlands should now be the priority, instead of tourism, farming and plantation-based economies.
He proposed that all future investors in Cameron Highlands to have only joint-venture projects with local businesses to improve existing facilities.
"No new sites should be awarded permits for development. A 'rehabilitation surcharge' could be imposed on all (accommodation) bookings in the highland, in addition to the daily RM3 charge for each tourist in Pahang.
"The state should aggressively rehabilitate the soil and rivers that have been polluted for decades by chemical fertilisers and insecticides by using the funds raised from the surcharge collection."
He said environmentally safe farming methods should be adopted and locals should be made to implement waste separation at home to improve the garbage management system.
REACH president Dilip Martin said the NGO did not oppose development, but it had to be done with sustainability in mind, including ensuring minimal land clearance.
"We can foresee extensive damage on nature if the proposed theme park in Habu is given the green light, not to mention the volume of visitors and vehicles going up once the park opens.
"In addressing the increasing traffic in Cameron Highlands, the authorities should introduce a park-at-hotel policy and provide feeder buses that will take visitors to tourist spots. It will also help reduce vehicle emissions."
A group of locals have initiated an online petition against a theme park project there through Change.org.
The campaign, with hashtags #SaveCameronHighlands and #StopDeforestation, has gathered over 58,000 signatures.
The group said the development would require massive forest clearance, which would impact the natural ecosystem in Cameron Highlands.
"We want to preserve our Cameron Highlands ecosystem as it is for our future generation. We must act now!" it said.
It was reported that the proposed development, called Escape Cameron Highlands, is located on a 24.28ha land in Habu.
Raising the alarm on the impact of deforestation in Cameron Highlands, Dilip urged the government to halt new developments and conduct a study on environmental damage there.
The New Straits Times recently reported that land-clearing activities and overdevelopment would further deteriorate the highlands, including more intense and frequent natural disasters.