Rubbished by S'gor exco, NGO defends 'Genting over-development' report

Environmental NGO Rimba Disclosure Project has defended its statement on what it says is over-development planned in the Genting area.

This follows a response by Selangor executive councillor in charge of environment, Hee Loy Sian, who rubbished the NGO's report.

Hee (above) said the Rimba Disclosure Project was wrong when it said 5,700ha of Genting forests are earmarked for development.

However, the NGO today said its statement had noted only 316ha of the 5,700ha falls within Selangor’s borders.

It said the information is also accurate because it is sourced from the official Special Development Plan (RKK) for Genting-Hulu Selangor, which was launched by the state in August.

The plan was available for public download until mid-September when the public display and objections period ended.

“Therefore, if our information is wrong and our facts incorrect, this is only because the official information provided by the Selangor government to the sismaps and iplan websites are incorrect as well,” the NGO said in a statement today.

The sismaps and iplan websites are government town-planning websites by the state and federal governments.

“If these are incorrect, then we request Hee to make the mapping data which he is using to make his conclusions public in order to avoid further confusion,” it said.

The NGO also invited the exco member for a meeting and offered support to the exco member on researching environmental issues in the future.

On Saturday, the NGO released its report on development plans in Genting, following a fatal landslide in the area, which has killed at least 24 people.

A total of 94 holidaymakers at Father’s Organic Farm were affected, with 61 rescued and nine still missing as of this morning.

The deceased were five boys, two girls, four men and thirteen women. Seven people sustained injuries.

Floods forecasted to hit Sg Melikai, Mersing from noon

Floods: Main routes connecting East Coast states still passable - T'ganu police

COMMENT | Campsite disaster signal to improve adventure industry

East Coast states to experience continuous heavy rain until Wednesday

Mudslide hits LPT 2, contra-flow activated

Rescuers at Batang Kali taking utmost care in using heavy machinery