ڤڠهوني تامن مرو دسق منتري بسر ڤراق چمڤور تاڠن ءسبلوم ترلمبتء
Residents and property owners in the Meru Valley Golf Resort (MVGR) totalling some 500 persons sent an official letter to Perak Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu over plans to convert the status of forest reserve land adjoining the MVGR into development land for housing.
The letter (shown below), dated the 7th of January 2020 and signed by a Loo Sai Keen, expressed strong objections to the use of about 46 acres of forest reserve land adjacent to the southern border of the resort for development.
According to a resident who spoke to TTF on condition of anonimity, there are three issues at hand – two involving plans to develop forest reserves, and the third, plans by the Ipoh City Council to convert 32.49 acres of residential land from low to medium density.
TTF has since discovered that the council has flagged a whopping 151.18 hectres of permanent reserve areas in the Kiedang Saiong Hill Range for mixed development and plans to amend the status of the land for said purpose.
PETALING JAYA: Residents and property owners in the Meru Valley Golf Resort (MVGR) totalling some 500 persons sent an official letter to Perak Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu over plans to convert the status of forest reserve land adjoining the MVGR into development land for housing.
The letter (shown below), dated the 7th of January 2020 and signed by a Loo Sai Keen, expressed strong objections to the use of about 46 acres of forest reserve land adjacent to the southern border of the resort for development.
According to Loo, chairman of the Meru Valley Residents Organisation, the clearing of the forest reserve would make it unsafe for residents as the present forest terrain at the border of the MVGR is hilly.
Loo wrote that landslides could easily occur should a natural stream that runs alongside the southern MVGR boundary get diverted upon clearance of the reserve and spoke of flooding as a serious risk factor.
A resident who spoke to TTF on condition of anonimity insisted that there are three issues at hand – two involving plans to develop forest reserves, and the third, plans by the Ipoh City Council to convert 32.49 acres of residential land from low to medium density.
“We hope the Menteri Besar can do something before it’s too late,” the resident said.
TTF has since discovered that the council has flagged a whopping 151.18 hectres of permanent reserve areas in the Kiedang Saiong Hill Range for mixed development and plans to amend the status of these areas for said purpose.
For the record, the hill range is 5 km away from Ipoh city centre and houses the Kledang Saiong Forest Eco Park, a well-known tourist destination that boasts a fresh water stream, jungle treks and natural camping sites for nature lovers.
According to a local daily, several non-governmental organisations joined forces with political parties and residents today to stage a protest against the development proposal.
The daily quoted Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) field officer Meor Razak Meor Abdul Rahman as saying amending the land usage of the permanent forest reserve into a mixed development will have an adverse effect.
“The three proposed areas for mix development are located on the slope of the Kledang Saiong Range, along the Ipoh-Lumut highway, and it’s very sensitive.
“The areas have geophysical features and the land there is vulnerable to erosion. Any activities on the slope could result in mud and flash flood and danger the residents nearby as well as the highway users,” Meor reportedly said.
THE THIRD FORCE
