GEORGE TOWN, June 5 — Sahabat Alam Malaysia wants the state government to order an immediate halt to the development of chalets on Bukit Laksamana.
Its president, S.M. Mohamed Idris, said the project should be scrapped as it was unthinkable that a housing construction project could be sited in a catchment area.
“A construction project cannot be located in an area designated as a catchment zone to get rain water to fill our dams,’he said.
He took the state government to task for failing to act in the matter besides not taking effective measures against irresponsible developers who flouted the laws and damaged the environment for profit.
He said developers may be encouraged to breach all development-related laws as they may think they could escape with a token fine.
“The state government has not been stringent in enforcement to prevent environmental degradation. It has to take strict measures to penalise environment criminals who illegally clear forests and hills,” he added.
Under the Forestry Act 1984, one can face a fine of up to RM1 million or a jail term of between five and 20 years or both if found guilty of illegal logging.
Environmental group Kumpulan Ahli Sahabat Alam Malaysia chairman Mohmad Afandi Ahmad said there was no specific law to protect catchment areas from development.
He said before a development project was embarked upon, the district office needed to present such plans to the public.
“The land office needs to publicly display development plans. But this is not being done. Thus, people get a shock as they are caught off guard when sudden development takes place in their area.”
