IPOH: The state government is facing criticism for its alleged failure to address environmental degradation linked to red soil and rock material quarrying in the Kledang Range.
These quarrying activities, which began following the degazettement of about 500.2 hectares of the Kledang Saiong Forest Reserve in 2010, are now blamed for worsening erosion, sedimentation, and recurring flash floods in the Sungai Pari basin.
Environmental activists and local residents said that the state government has ignored clear warning signs of environmental damage from unchecked quarrying operations.
Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Sam) field officer Meor Razak Meor Abdul Rahman said that these activities have the potential to cause erosion and sedimentation, particularly during the rainy season.
"During each rainy season, surface runoff mixed with mud and sediment flows into streams and large drains, eventually reaching Sungai Pari.
"The frequent erosion and sedimentation have caused Sungai Pari to become increasingly shallow, undermining the effectiveness of flood mitigation projects in the basin.
"As a result, downstream areas of Sungai Pari have experienced flash floods and stagnant water in recent times," he said when contacted today.
Meanwhile, Environmental Activist Association (Kuasa) secretary Hafizudin Nasarudin said there are growing concerns among local communities about the increased risks of severe flooding and landslides due to clearing activities near Chepor in the Kledang Saiong Forest Reserve.
"The quarrying activities have expanded significantly and now come dangerously close to residential areas like Taman Chepor Indah and Rancangan Perkampungan Tersusun (RPT) Batu 10, with less than 100 metres separating the cleared land from homes.
"The land clearing involves two main concessions in the southern and northern parts of Chepor. With slopes ranging from 30 to 45 degrees, this increases the risk of severe soil erosion, landslides, and mud floods, especially with heavy rainfall," he said.
He added that in 2020, local residents organised a large-scale protest, demanding the state government halt hill excavation activities in the area.
"As a result, the project, granted to the Perak State Development Corporation (PKNPk), was stopped. However, it was resumed a few years later.
"Kuasa will seek detailed information on the project's current status. In the meantime, we urge strict control over these activities, and, if possible, an immediate halt. Rehabilitation work on the hillside is necessary to prevent further incidents," he said.
A resident, Mohamed Azhar Shah Zainal Arif, 35, voiced concerns that the state government must address this issue before natural disasters worsen.
"We've been worried for years about the condition of the hills in Kledang Saiong Forest.
"We bought homes here to enjoy the scenic views and a peaceful environment, but now it feels like we're living in a logging area," he said.
Another resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, said the state government needs to balance development and environmental preservation.
"Right now, it feels like they're more focused on profit than protecting the people and the environment.
"We are calling for immediate action to prevent further destruction, hold quarry operators accountable, and restore the affected areas," he said.
It is worth noting that the Kledang Saiong Forest serves as the upstream catchment area for Sungai Chepor and other tributaries that flow into Sungai Pari and Sungai Kinta, which run through the city of Ipoh.
Attempts to obtain comments from Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad and PKNPk are ongoing.