PREDEEP NAMBIAR New Straits Times 15 Mar 15;
GEORGE TOWN: There destruction on Bukit Gambier here appears to carry on unabated, with a staggering 4ha (10acres) of its hill slope set ablaze by irresponsible hill farmers earlier today.
At about 12.20noon, some 60 firemen charged up the hill range opposite the Universiti Sains Malaysia Bukit Gambier gate to put out billowing smoke from the hill, which is part of the Penang Hill range.
Billowing smoke from five spots on the hill were visible from the Penang Bridge and in many parts of the island.
Firemen took six hours to put out the fires, which they blame was caused by forest clearing activities by hill farmers.
Jalan Perak Fire and Rescue Department senior officer II Shahrolnizam Murad said firemen had initially thought it was caused by peat fires.
“Based on what we saw, this could be most likely started by hill farmers.
“We spotted two unoccupied huts in the vicinity. They are probably clearing the land for farming,” he said when contacted.
This incident comes at an untimely as large piece of the hill was cleared by developers last week, as part of a planned housing project.
Last Thursday, environment-interest group Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) spotted a large parcel of land being cleared at Bukit Gambier adjacent to Gambier Heights, fearing a repeat of another 2013 Bukit Relau (Bukit Botak) episode.
Pictures taken by SAM showed a temporary hill trek was opened at the hill range and a few tipper trucks and tractors were seen entering the path.
SAM has since urged the state government to investigate thoroughly and check if there was environmental impact assessments sent to the local authorities before given the all clear.
On Saturday, Local Government Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow warned errant developers to follow the law or risk having their projects put 'on hold'.
“Don’t jump the gun. Get the proper approval; wait for the approval to come then start work lah (sic).
“But this keeps happening you know. We do not welcome this kind of developer here,” he said.
Chow added submission of planning approvals was not akin to having permission to start work.
“There are various stages in obtaining planning permission. It (planning permission) does not give you the right to start work.
“Only the Commencement of Work certificate is the right document that allows you to start work. The others (approvals) do not allow you to start work,” he said.
Chow added that state government can put a hold on their plans if they wanted to.
“We can hold on to their plans, take them to court. As of now, I have not received any reports on the matter, so I will check and get back to you,” he said.
Over the past few years, rampant hill-clearing in Penang by landowners and developers have irked environment groups and nature loving Penangites.
In 2013, a football-field sized portion (0.8ha) of Bukit Relau facing the Penang Bridge was cleared. After a public outcry over the hilltop being cleared without the council's approval, the developers were fined. The hill has since earned the moniker Bukit Botak. Until today, the hill appears to be ‘bald’ despite works to replant trees at the area were underway.
Last June, Bukit Kukus, on the same range as Bukit Relau, was cleared. A land about the size of a football field was cleared close to the densely populated Taman Paya Terubong Jaya housing estate.
The area being cleared was 1,200 ft. above sea level, causing many to ask how anyone could have approved a development project at the site. The local authorities have since issued a stop-work order.
