The residents in Taman Cuepac in Cheras, who live in the shadow of the once-pristine Bukit Sungai Putih Permanent Forest and Wildlife Reserve, are up in arms again.

This morning they woke up to find a massive landslide which resulted in tons of earth and debris being deposited in the area's main monsoon drains and blocking its whole drainage system.

Their frustration is understandable. For years, they have warned about the threat of massive damage to their homes and property due to the brazen destruction of the Bukit Sungai Putih hillslopes and the fragile forest reserve.

Their fears are not unfounded. There was a mudflood in the area six years ago caused by the developers clearing land in the hills, resulting in extensive damages to homes.

But no one appears to be listening.

Resident Kua Kia Soong said that it was "remarkable" that unlike the tragic collapse of the Highland Towers in 1993, which was caused by a mudslide, there was no loss of life yesterday.

"Given another afternoon rainstorm, residents houses will certainly be flooded, just as they were in 1999, a disaster for which irresponsible developers and the state government are accountable," said Kua, who is principal of a local college and director of human rights group Suaram.

ACA probe

The Bukit Sungai Putih permanent forest and wildlife reserve, which was gazetted in 1932, was de-gazetted in 1992 by the state government to pave the way of exclusive housing projects to be developed by a consortium, in which a subsidiary of the state government is a major player.

In 1997, the media reported that the Anti-Corruption Agency was investigating into the questionable land acquisition at Bukit Sungai Putih. However, eight years later, the agency has yet to release its findings.

"Despite being ordered to stop work for causing a mudflood in Taman Cuepacs in 1999, the developers ... have continued to brazenly encroach into environment impact assessment (EIA) designated "high risk" areas of this ancient pristine forest reserve," said Kua.

According to the EIA for the project and federal and state government regulations on slope clearing, the developers are not permitted to touch slopes designated as "high risk".

"(Yet) it is now visible to residents of Taman Cuepacs Phase I that such a high-risk watershed above their Taman is now being rapidly denuded. Heavy blasting has given way to mechanical cutting at 75 degree slopes and can be heard daily suggesting that the developers are flattening slopes they are not supposed to touch."

Will the federal govt listen?

The residents also complained about the traffic from the new housing project uphill will be using the already congested single outlet to the main road, Jalan Cheras.

"This brings into question the dubious manner in which the Hulu Langat and Ampang Municipal Councils approved the infrastructural plan for this project. How could such a project be approved if it does not have its own sewerage, drainage, silt control and traffic solutions but has to worsen the already terrible infrastructure in our housing estate," lamented Kua.

Kua and the residents have since given up on the state government after years of protests.

"We call upon the federal authorities to call a halt to this brazen disregard for the EIA requirements and illegal infrastructural works since it is clear the state government is turning a blind eye to this encroachment."