Lay off Bukit Larut and her surrounding areas!!!! Ada je tangan gatal - BN ke, PKR ke...pliiiizzzz

What's up with Malaysian politicians - their hands are alwayz very itchy when it comes to hill areas.

2009/01/19

Fomca against cable car

IPOH: The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) wants the state government to put off plans to build a cable car at Bukit Larut so as not to disturb the eco-system.

Its president, Datuk N. Marimuthu, said the proposal was first made in 1997 but was abandoned in 2007 after a memorandum was sent to then menteri besar Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli Ghazali.

"We have also confirmed that the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) does not support the project, contrary to a statement that they are for it."said.

Marimuthu also took a potshot at the DAP, saying that when the party was in the opposition in the state, they had supported Fomca in its bid to stop any development at Bukit Larut.

"The hill belongs to future generations and I urge Taiping residents to protest against this ridiculous idea."
Marimuthu said there were several reasons why the project should not be implemented.

Among them is the need to protect the 21.53 square km water catchment area and the unstable slope which recorded loss of soil at 150 tonnes per hectare a year, making it unsuitable for man-made structures.

The hill had been classified as one of the "regional centres of plant diversity" under the United Nations Environment Programme but now risks losing that status.

In 1910, some 7,130ha were gazetted as forest reserves. In 1962, a further 2,747ha were gazetted as the "Larut Hills virgin jungle reserve". It was also acknowledged as a habitat for flora and fauna in 2002 by the Federal Government.

Sanitation and solid waste management projects would also force animals to leave their sanctuary, said Marimuthu.

State Education, Local Government, Housing and Public Transport Committee chairman Nga Kor Ming had said on Thursday a RM60 million project had been approved in principle.

He had said the company to be awarded the project had been told not to endanger the environment.

Construction work would be carried out using helicopters so that the flora and fauna would not be harmed.

The cable would stretch between 5km and 6km. It would have 26 to 46 cars, capable of carrying 1,000 visitors on an 11-minute trip to the top.

Formerly known as Maxwell Hill, Bukit Larut is the oldest hill station in the country, dating back to 1884.

Government four-wheel-drive vehicles now ferry visitors up a 13km road up the 1,250-metre hill.

source: http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Monday/National/2457085/Article/index_html