ALOR STAR: Logging activities currently taking place in forest reserves in this state are alleged to be among the contributors to the mud floods affecting Sik and Baling districts.
Pertubuhan Alam Sekitar Sejahtera Malaysia (Grass) Kedah-chapter chairman, Mohd Sobri Ramlee, claimed that logging activities in the Rimba Teloi and Bukit Enggang Forest Reserves, which have been turned into forest plantations, have resulted in the loss of trees that previously functioned as barriers to rainwater.
He added that parts of the forests have been converted into Musang King durian plantations, solar farms, and rare earth elements (REE) mining sites.
"There has been damage in the Kedah upper streams, namely the Ulu Muda Forest Reserve Complex, due to drastic deforestation, which is one of the reasons some areas have been hit by mud floods.
"The impact of this deforestation has also affected the quality of water that is channelled through several dams in the area," he said claim in a social media posting yesterday.
Sobri claimed that logging operations are also being carried out near the water catchments area, which may be used as a route for logging trucks to transport timber.
"Flooding is a common phenomenon, but when floods come with mud, it is likely due to damage occurring upstream or at the source of rivers in the highland areas.
"At the Ahning Dam, satellite monitoring has shown that while there are still vast green areas on the Thai side, on the Malaysian side, the logging appears to be more aggressive.
"Water from the mountain peaks will flow into Lake Ahning, and this is what has affected the water quality, as there is logging even near the water catchments. Slopes nearby should not have been logged, but they have been terraced drastically," he said.
Sobri also claimed that the logging is not selective but is allegedly being carried out through clear-cutting, as there are no smaller trees left in the exploited areas.
"When the upstream forests have been logged, they can no longer hold back water flow during heavy rain," he added.
Sobri also claimed that water from the upper areas has been carrying thick mud to residents' homes during large-scale floods.
"As a result, even the downstream areas of Kedah, such as Alor Star, have experienced recurring floods recently.
"Water from Lake Ahning flows into Sungai Padang Terap, which then converges with Sungai Pedu, forming a large river that eventually flows into Sungai Kedah.
"Based on my understanding, this convergence is what has worsened downstream flooding, including bringing mud from upstream," he said.
Sobri stressed on the importance of preventing the disaster from recurring.
"It is true that the floods are caused by continuous heavy rainfall, which is the main factor because if there is no rain, there would be no flooding.
"However, if we had preserved and managed our forests as best as possible, there would not have been such severe flash floods or mud floods," he said.
The floods that have hit Kedah have now lasted for a month, having persisted since Sept 16, with some areas experiencing repeated floods in a short period of time.
In the districts of Baling and Sik, debris floods that brought with them tree trunks, stones, sand, and mud have also been reported.