While logging works near Kampung Cherok Meranti in Serdang, Kedah has stopped, villagers are still reeling from the negative effects and want the state government to furnish adequate compensation.

Village spokesperson Samsul Arif Mat Saad alleged that flash floods caused by the logging works had resulted in severe damage to fish ponds and farm lands which the 200-odd villagers depend on.

Fresh water supply had also been disrupted as the flash floods had damaged pipes. Rivers in the area had become shallow due to heavy siltation, he added.

According to Samsul, while the relevant authorities had managed to stop logging works in Compartment 26 of the Gunung Bongsu forest reserve on March 30, the villagers are still unhappy with the offers made by the authorities.

"The villagers feel that those responsible (for our problems) were not interested in helping us resolve the problems they created," he told malaysiakini .

The complaints were forwarded through a memorandum to the Serdang district officer yesterday by Samsul and the villagers. The memorandum was received by district office secretary Radzuan Osman. ( photo )

Compensate us

In the memorandum, the villagers demanded, among others, financial compensation for the damages caused. The quantum would be decided in a meeting between the villagers and representatives of various government departments.

The villagers are also demanding that rehabilitation works be taken on the land and waterways in the area.

According to Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) field researcher Shamsul Eri Samsudin, the Serdang district office had offered to give saplings to the villagers as compensation for their damaged crops.

"When the flash floods and mudslide occurred, the crops were already ready for harvest. The villagers feel that the (district office's) offer was insufficient," he said.

Logging works in the area began in April 2006 but was temporarily ceased in February this year following heavy protest by the villagers.

The first ever flash flood and mudslide recorded in the area occurred in December last year, followed by another incident in February this year. Villagers are pinning the blame on uncontrolled logging as the cause.

Upon intervention by Kedah Menteri Besar Mahdzir Khalid, logging works were ordered to stop on March 30.