State rep: Dozens of new Bukit Lagong quarries may worsen Kuang floods

Existing quarries on the peripheries of the Bukit Lagong Forest Reserve in Sungai Buloh are already having an adverse ecological impact on residents living nearby, said a Selangor state lawmaker.

Kuang assemblyperson Sallehudin Amiruddin said that plans to open 27 more quarries at the hill would only make flash floods more frequent in the area.

Speaking to Malaysiakini, the independent representative said the quarries that are already in operation often cause local waterways to get clogged with sand - which causes flash floods.

“Every time it rains, there are floods. The most affected is Kampung Gombak. Other villages affected are Kampung Sungai Serai, Kampung Melayu Sri Kundang, and Kampung Damai.

“It is because of the quarries... (If there are more quarries) I am worried there will be more floods,” he said.

Orang Asli living at the Hulu Kuang village right next to Bukit Lagong have also complained that the development of the hill is causing floods. There are two quarries already operating south of the village.

Sallehudin said the state government should cease all quarry activities at Bukit Lagong.

He also called on quarry companies operating in the area to help clean up local rivers clogged by sand from their activities.

“Especially at the head of Sungai Kuang. Many are affected (by the river getting clogged),” he said.

State GLCs involved

Meanwhile, Selayang Umno Youth chief Shah Zanuriman demanded the state government explain why Bukit Laggong was being carved up.

“Why is the state government so greedy that it has opened up so many quarry sites at the Bukit Lagong Forest Reserve.

“The state government must explain and halt the opening of the quarry sites.

“Or will the state government continue to blame BN, which hasn't been in power at Selangor for more than 10 years?” he said in a Facebook post yesterday.

Among the companies involved in the new quarries at Bukit Lagong, three are linked to the state government.

Two of them are government-linked companies (GLC) fully owned by the state government - Menteri Besar Selangor Incorporated (MBI) and Permodalan Negeri Selangor Berhad (PNSB), both chaired by Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari.

The third developer is owned by Koperasi Jabatan Perhutanan Negeri Selangor Berhad. According to its website, it is open for former or current employees of the Selangor Forestry Department to join.

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