FMT / August 8, 2022
Ministry’s report on Baling floods incomplete, claims MP
PETALING JAYA: DAP MP Wong Hon Wai has criticised the energy and natural resources ministry’s report on the Baling floods as being incomplete and not comprehensive.
The Bukit Bendera MP said the report had merely elaborated on the incidents from a geological perspective, and not on chronological records of the changing land use approved by the Kedah government.
“The report did not include investigations involving the change of land use and the violation of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedures and other laws,” he said in a statement.
While the Gunung Inas Forest Reserve was EIA-approved for forest development, he said, the durian trees planted in the area were not approved by the forestry department.
Wong said the effect the floods had on Penang residents was not included in the report either, although their water supply had been affected for several days.
Referring to the “root cause” and “additional factors” stated in the report, he said it was clear that the use of the hilly area for the durian plantation was to blame for the floods.
“I would like to emphasise that the flood disaster in Baling was not a natural disaster, but a man-made disaster that disrespected the environment and the law,” he said.
However, Wong said the recommendations in the report could be implemented by the Kedah government, highlighting that it was important for the state to take drastic measures in recovering the logged area of the forest reserve.
Wong had previously called for a white paper on the Baling floods to be presented and debated in Parliament.
On Aug 3, Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Md Nor denied that the durian farm project at Gunung Inas was the cause of the floods and debris flow in the Baling district on July 4 that claimed three lives.
He said none of the reservoirs for the project had burst as claimed by certain parties.
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