IPOH, Dec 8 — Cameron Highlands residents want the authorities to scrap the aerial tram project proposed in the Cameron Highlands Draft Local Plan 2030.
They say they have seen enough destruction in Cameron Highlands over the last couple of decades and do not want another mega project in their midst which could affect the highlands’ fragile eco-system.
Instead, they want the government to rethink the proposal and come up with better alternatives to improve accessibility at the highlands, which is often congested by slow-moving vehicle traffic on weekends when droves of tourists arrive.
The aerial tram, touted to be the longest in the world and expected to cost RM550 million, was proposed in the draft local plan which was unveiled last week by Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob.
The project is aimed to lessen the use of private vehicles and it connects Tanah Rata, Habu, Ringlet, Brinchang, Tringkap and Kuala Terla.
The residents told Malay Mail that they had no knowledge of the proposed project.
Mohamad Yaacob Ibrahim, 61, who owns a boutique in Brinchang, said: “I have never heard anyone talking about a cable car project here. I wonder who came up with this idea. I am against it.”
He said there was no guarantee that the introduction of the aerial tram project would reduce traffic congestion.
“It could get worse in certain areas and also the process of building the aerial network would require the use of heavy machinery.
“The main road here is already packed with cars, imagine huge vehicles going in and out of our towns to transport machinery, raw material and metal structures. It will definitely worsen the situation.”
Yaacob suggests that the government add extra road lanes and provide more parking areas instead of constructing a cable car network.
Tanasekeran Subramaniam, 28, a farmer from Kuala Terla, was not convinced the construction of the cable car system would cause minimal damage to the ecosystem.
“The development of the proposed project will be carried out on the hills. Let’s face it, the hills here are not stable. These are earth hills, not built of granite or rock formation. Chances for hill slope erosions are high,” he said.
Tanasekeran said although the project could help reduce traffic congestion, it was not worth pursuing for the adverse effects it could have on the environment.
“Ultimately, the ones who will be most affected are humans. Do we want to see landslides or have our rivers polluted? I think we all know the answer,” he said.
Liew Yeong Lee, 40, a hotel receptionist in Tanah Rata, said the project would do more harm than good to the highlands’ environment.
“The project will require clearing of land to build stations and other infrastructure. This could lead to landslip and erosion to occur,” she said.
Liew said the highlands was plagued by a lot of problems which the authorities have so far been struggling to rectify.
The highlands, which receives more than 700,000 visitors per year, is a major tourist destination. Located on the border of Pahang and Perak, the highlands has long ago shed its image of a pristine hill station due to, some have argued, uncontrolled development and agriculture.
“The more the development, the higher the temperature,” Liew said.
“Unlike 20 or 30 years ago, the temperature has become hotter now. Clearing more land will only worsen the situation. I don’t agree that this aerial tram project should go on.”
