Fire and Rescue Department personnel surveying the extent of the landslide which hit three campsites at Father’s Organic Farm, Batang Kali. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star
THE landslide which hit Batang Kali last Friday has raised safety concerns among village heads in the area.
There are six villages in this sub-district in Hulu Selangor. They are Kampung Hulu Rening, Kampung Kuantan, Kampung Taman Seri, Kampung Sungai Masin, Kampung Sentosa and Kampung Genting Malik.
Nazari says all village heads in the district have been informed to be on the lookout.
“All the village heads in the district have been informed to be on the lookout so that our residents can be alerted quickly,” said Kampung Hulu Rening head Nazari Karim.
Though the village is located about 20km from the disaster site, Nazari pointed out that underground water from the hilltop could travel far and impact a wide area.
Though the village is just beside the Bukit Kutu Forest Reserve and not located beside any hillslope, the village management committee (MPKK) has advised those residing near riverways to watch out for floods.
The nearest village to the private campsites which were buried in the landslide is Kampung Genting Malik, some 10km away.
“For now, the many campsites that have opened in Hulu Tamu and Hulu Rening have ceased operations following orders from the Hulu Selangor Municipal Council,” said village head Mohd Rasif Rawi.
He added that the landslide has put everyone in the village on alert, especially when it rains heavily.
“Our MPKK has already established a communication network for emergency numbers in case of any eventuality,” he said.
Mohd Rasif added that though villagers in Kampung Genting Malik were most worried about flooding, there was also simmering resentment over hilltop developments which had affected those living nearby.
“Our rivers have become muddy. We are unable to bathe in them.
Mohd Rasif says there is simmering resentment over hilltop developments.
“We have been vocal in protesting this but as orang bawah, those at the top do not seem to hear us,” he complained.
Muhammad Shariman Saharudin, who is MPKK secretary of Kampung Sungai Masin, which is 15km from the accident site, told StarMetro that the tragedy should serve as a lesson on the importance of environmental preservation.
He said the river running though the village, Sungai Masin, is connected to Sungai Batang Kali, which flows from Genting Highlands.
“From now on, there must be better monitoring and enforcement of recreational activities as operators will often clear land and vegetation for such purposes,” he said.
Muhammad Shariman added that villagers wanted authorities to impose stricter controls on hilltop developments in the area.
“The environmental impact assessment studies must cover a larger radius and take into consideration the damage to surrounding ecosystems,” he added.
The Batang Kali landslide on Dec 16, he said, should be an eye-opener to authorities.
“In the past, villagers were not able to bring our story out into the open.
“Now, we hope things will change,” said Muhammad Shariman.
A total of 24 people died in the early morning landslide which hit three campsites at Father’s Organic Farm.
At press time, nine people are reported missing, with search and rescue efforts still ongoing.
