SAM urges stringent protection of hills after fatal landslide near Camerons
Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) is calling for the government to immediately investigate the landslide tragedy at Jalan Simpang Pulai-Blue Valley in Ipoh leading to Cameron Highlands yesterday which claimed the lives of two people.
SAM president Meenakshi Raman, in a statement, said despite the many incidents of landslides in Cameron Highlands and its vicinity, it is clear not enough measures have been taken to prevent the occurrence of such tragedies.
“Often, we hear of...
Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) is calling for the government to immediately investigate the landslide tragedy at Jalan Simpang Pulai-Blue Valley in Ipoh leading to Cameron Highlands on Thursday which claimed the lives of two people.
SAM president Meenakshi Raman, in a statement yesterday said despite the many incidents of landslides in Cameron Highlands and its vicinity, it is clear not enough measures have been taken to prevent the occurrence of such tragedies.
“Often, we hear of landslides and slope failures happening following continuous rainfalls not only in Cameron Highlands but also in other parts of the country.
“The occurrence of rainfalls is not uncommon and is to be expected but that cannot be the primary cause of landslides and slope failures.
“In order for landslides and slope failures to happen and be triggered by continuous rainfall, there must have been disturbances to the natural terrain in the area concerned,” said Meenakhsi.
She also expressed concern as to whether any land-clearings for agriculture activities or other developments may have taken place, which need to be halted, and for protective and rehabilitative measures to be taken immediately.
Meenakshi called on the relevant authorities in Cameron Highlands and the surrounding areas to monitor all high-risk areas and take measures to prevent the occurrence of other landslides or slope failures.
“We all must know by now that highlands and hill areas are environmentally sensitive and very prone to landslides and slope failures.
“With the advent of climate change, heavy rainfalls with increased frequency and intensity, it is high time that our authorities act with utmost caution and strictly control developments on hill lands and highlands, carry out more frequent monitoring and firmly enforce existing laws and regulations.
“We should halt the conversions of hill lands and highlands and must strictly control existing activities. Otherwise, we will be inviting further tragedies,” Meenakshi said.
Bernama quoted Perak police chief Mior Faridalathrash Wahid, who was at the location of the landslide on Thursday, saying that the dead were lorry driver Muhammad Hafiz Hamdi, 31, while the other was the driver of a multi-purpose vehicle, in his 50s, whose identity had not been ascertained.
The search and rescue operation took almost seven hours, with both bodies extricated at about 10pm.
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