(MY) indiscriminate hill clearing in Genting Highlands.

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Excessive tree felling - New Straits Times

 

JERANTUT, Sat. (July 2, 1995) - Indiscriminate clearing of highlands could have

caused the Genting Highlands landslide which has claimed the lives of 20 people,

Science, Environment and Technology Minister Datuk Law Hieng Ding said today.

 

He was of the opinion that indiscriminate land clearing and felling of trees in

the highlands had reached a critical stage. " I was able to see this for myself

while on my way here in a helicopter. The pattern of development in Genting

Highlands makes me conclude that land-clearing in the area, to a large extent,

has been carried out indiscriminately.

 

" This could be one of the factors that caused the disaster. There is too much

hill-cutting there and it could have changed and expedited the water flow which

could have resulted in the landslide. "

 

He will convene a special meeting with Menteris Besar and Chief Ministers soon

to discuss land-clearing and the felling of trees on highlands.

 

He said the meeting was vital to enable them to reach an understanding in their

efforts to prevent and reduce landslides. Even though land matters and project

development on highlands come under the jurisdiction of the respective State

Governments, he said a compromise and understanding had to be reached to avoid a

recurrence.

 

Earlier, Law launched the 1995 July Fest at the Taman Negara Resort, Kuala

Tahan.

 

For a start, Law said his ministry would stress that developers and those

involved in development projects should abide strictly by the conditions and

regulations stipulated under the Environmental Quality Act 1974.

 

" If they observe the rules, it would at least help prevent landslides. " Law said

developers should follow the methods of land-clearing in Japan and Switzerland.

 

" There, the efforts are done in accordance with the specifications laid down by

the authorities and with great care. "

 

He also called on developers to be more responsible in carrying out their

projects, particularly when it involved the construction of the drainage system.

 

" If this factor is neglected, then we can expect more landslide incidents

especially on highlands, " he added.

 

He reminded developers of the Highland Towers tragedy that claimed the lives of

48 people and told them to be more committed.

 

Geological experts spoken to today said the landslides could have been caused by

slope failure and the displacement of land due to slope instability or faults in

the rock structure.

 

While stressing it was too early to determine the actual cause of the landslide,

they feel that intense rain and shocks or vibrations caused by construction

activities in the area could have contributed to the instability of the soil.

 

" It's too early to say but based on my observation and experience, I think the

landslide was caused by a combination of factors, " said a geologist, who asked

not to be identified. He said some slopes were susceptible to landslides and the

main factors relate to the nature of underlying bedrock and soil, steepness of

the slope and ground-water conditions.

 

" Landslides can be triggered by gradual processes such as weathering, or

activities such as construction work and undercutting of a slope, or due to

heavy rain, loading on the upper slopes, or a combination of these factors, " he

said.

 

He said landslides usually occur along joints or fractures in the bedrock. Soils

like silt and clay, without vegetation and pounded by heavy rain, could slide or

flow down a steep slope.

 

A geologist from Universiti Malaya said slope failures could be due to

construction activity that undercut or overloaded dangerous slopes. " Sometimes,

developers construct buildings near the top or base of steep slopes. This is

dangerous, " he said. Poorly-planned forest clearing might increase rates of

surface water run-off or ground-water infiltration. Inefficient irrigation or

sewage effluent disposal practices might result in increased ground-water

pressures. This, in turn, could reduce the stability of rock and sediment, he

added.

 

" People increase the risk of landslides by changing the landscape, for example,

by building on unstable slopes or in the path of potential landslides.

Unfortunately, many people are unaware of their exposure to landslide risks, " he

said.

 

The Geological Survey Department has sent a team of geologists to the site of

the landslide to investigate and collect data.

 

Khoo Kay Khean, principal geologist in the corporate unit of the department,

said two geologists were despatched to the location this morning and they would

be joined by several geologists and geological assistants from Ipoh in a day or

two.

 

" They are on an information-gathering mission. They are to determine the size of

the landslide, conduct a general study on the geological structure (faults,

joints, fractures) and materials (rock type and profile, soil), slope angle and

geometry and volume of debris, and look for erosion signs, " he said.

 

Khoo said the team, headed by the director of geological services, would prepare

its report and submit it to the Ministry of Primary Industries next week. The

information would serve as input to assist the relevant authorities find the

cause of the tragedy, he added.

 

" We cannot pinpoint what caused the landslide without conducting checks and

having all data with us. Only when input from other disciplines, such as

geotechnical and civil engineering are available, can we be more specific, " Khoo

said.