Deforestation at the Hulu Teranum Forest reserve here, carried out by a government agency for the past 10 months, can adversely affect the environment and surrounding population.
Association for the Protection of Natural Heritage of Malaysia (PEKA) president Puan Sri Shariffa Sabrina Syed Akil said the land clearing which involves 145.9 of the forest reserve, which is more than 500 metres above sea level, raises some 'questions'.
The land clearing is said to be for a rubber tree planting project for the the Orang Asli community in Sungai Delam of Mukim Tras.
"This is absurd because we know the Orang Asli prefer to make a living gathering forest products such as resins, honey, rattan, and agarwood found in forests around their villages.
"This is evident from the way they don't even bother with the rubber plantations located near their homes, let alone large rubber plantations on the highlands.
"Peka is concerned that if the project is continued, it will pollute Sungai Delam, which is the only river graded as 'Class 1' in the district and a source of clean water supply for the Orang Asli and the surrounding area," she said after visiting the area here, Wednesday.
She also feared clearing the forest area at the foot of Fraser's Hill might threaten Sungai Delam which is also a source of eco-tourism to resort operators in the area, including her own resort, Tanah Aina Farrah Soraya.
"Many local and foreign tourists visit the district because of its clear, clean and unpolluted river and the forest which is rich with a wide variety of flora and fauna.
"Imagine if the deforestation continues, the river will become murky and contaminated. This will of course have a negative impact on tourist arrivals and on Raub's image as an eco-tourim destination," she said.
In regard to this, Shariffa Sabrina wants the state government to monitor the matter because Peka believes that the party carrying out the project has a specific agenda as the forest is rich in untapped natural resources.
Meanwhile, a fish breeder Mun Chee Kin, 58, who depends on Sungai Delam for his business, also expressed concern with the actions of the parties concerned.
"I have been operating the fishponds here for nearly seven years and 80 per cent of the water supply is from Sungai Delam. If the project continues, it will definitely affect my 30 tilapia ponds," said the breeder who supplies the fish to markets in Kuala Lumpur and surrounding areas. - BERNAMA
Bernama
Wed Dec 28 2016
The land clearing is said to be for a rubber tree planting project for the the Orang Asli community in Sungai Delam of Mukim Tras. - Filepic
Rasionalisasi RON95 dijangka beri impak lebih besar kepada PKS - SAMENTA
SAMENTA menjangkakan rasionalisasi RON95 akan memberi impak yang lebih besar kepada perusahaan kecil dan sederhana (PKS) berbanding pelarasan subsidi diesel.
Malaysia sasar pengeluaran 40 peratus sektor akuakultur menjelang 2030
Malaysia menyasarkan pengeluaran 40 peratus hasil sektor akuakultur menjelang 2030 dalam usaha membantu mengimbangi keperluan perikanan negara.
10 Berita Pilihan - (16 Julai 2024
Antara pelbagai berita dalam dan luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
PAC beri tempoh tiga bulan kepada HRD Corp
Jawatankuasa Kira-kira Wang Negara (PAC) memberi tempoh tiga bulan kepada Perbadanan Pembangunan Sumber Manusia (HRD Corp) untuk mengemukakan laporan tindakan susulan terhadap syor jawatankuasa itu.
Kylian Mbappe tandatangan kontrak dengan Real Madrid
Bintang bola sepak Perancis Kylian Mbappe menandatangani kontrak selama lima tahun dengan kelab Sepanyol Real Madrid pada Selasa.
Pelepasan ketujuh air sisa nuklear Fukushima ke laut selesai
Jepun telah menyelesaikan pusingan ketujuh pelepasan air sisa radioaktif yang dirawat dari loji kuasa nuklear Fukushima Daiichi ke Lautan Pasifik pada Selasa.
Empat termasuk kapten maut dalam pertempuran
Empat anggota tentera India termasuk kapten meninggal dunia akibat kecederaan selepas pertempuuran pada malam isnin di Hutan Desa.
Pakistan sahkan 4 warganya terbunuh di Oman
Pakistan berkata pada Selasa empat warganya terbunuh dalam insiden tembakan pada malam Isnin berhampiran ibu negara Oman, Muscat.
Lima terbunuh, puluhan cedera dalam protes antikuota di Bangladesh
Sekurang-kurangnya empat orang terbunuh dan puluhan lagi cedera dalam pertempuran antara pelajar yang memprotes sistem kuota dalam pekerjaan sektor awam dan polis di pelbagai bahagian Bangladesh pada Selasa.
Kerajaan cadang perkenal pembiayaan swasta
Kerajaan menyasarkan untuk memperkenalkan pembiayaan swasta alternatif bagi memastikan kemampanan kewangan program sektor air, sekali gus mengurangkan kebergantungan pada perbelanjaan kerajaan dan mengukuhkan daya tahan.