Deforestation at water catchment areas is likely to have led to the devastating mud floods which killed three and displaced more than 600 residents near Baling, Kedah on Monday, environmentalists said.

“This is a straightforward issue. The previous deforestation at water catchment areas like Sungai Kupang and Sungai Tiak had caused the rivers to become shallow due to erosion and sedimentation.

“There is nothing else that...