Parti Sosialis Malaysia has outlined a series of measures the government can undertake to prevent a repeat of Wesnesday's mud flood in Cameron Highlands which claimed three lives instead of blaming the disaster on residents.

This is after Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob claimed authorities had taken measures to prevent such a happening but "nothing much" could be done as settlers have occupied most of the areas with haphazard developments and stripping the forests bare.

This is the second incident since the October flood last year which killed five people.

Firstly, Cameron Highlands PSM secretary Suresh Kumar ( right ) said the government should curb the clearing of new land, be it legal or illegal.

Likewise, he said authorities must also bring mass development and mass agriculture commercialisaton under control.

Instead, he said, focus should be placed on small farmers who have yet to receive land titles and often suffer the brunt of these floods.

"(Presently), the clearing of forest land is allowed, be it legal or not, to profit a small group of people but small farmers with less than five acres of lands are denied permanent land title and must rely on a temporary occupation license," he said.

He said the over-development has led to the Sultan Abu Bakar dam and surrounding rivers to become saturated with soil,with little room for water.

More importantly, Suresh said the Pahang government must keep check of the Cameron Highlands Land and Office Department which he said wielded too much power in approving developments.

“Even though there should be some 15 government departments involved in approving any projects, but the department heads face pressure from voicing out against detrimental projects.

“They may face 'punishment' if they voice out against projects meant to benefit a small group of elites,” he said.

He called on  residents and environmental NGOs to be involved in the approval of future developments there.