Camerons folk lament uncertain future while remembering pristine hills

Cleaning up: Housewife P. Megala (left), 32, helping her neighbour R. Ponay, 59, to wash plates covered in mud from the recent floods in Ringlet. - Bernama

CAMERON HIGHLANDS: Talk to residents here and the most common point of conversation will be about how things have been changing in the highlands.

Many highlanders spoke of a time when things were greener and more pristine while the people were less anxious each time it rained.

Trader M. Marial, 40, who was born here, said she was worried for the highlands’ future.

“The hills used to be filled with so much greenery. More bald patches and red soil are visible now.

“There were not many landslides and flash floods in the past. It is happening more frequently after heavy rain nowadays.

“I feel that the chopping down of trees is causing soil erosion, thus the landslide incidents,” Marial said, adding that even hilltops were not spared.

She said Kampung Raja, Bertam Valley, Ringlet and Kuala Terla were the areas that had seen a huge increase in agricultural activity.

“There are many farms now. Some areas that used to be forests are now farms. I hope more could be done to stop the highlands from being turned into a big mess,” she added.

Heavy rainfall at the highlands caused flash floods and landslides at several areas, including Ringlet, Kuala Terla and Bertam Valley.

Hawker Mazlan Alias said the authorities should stop the land clearing activities.

“Whenever it rains heavily, the people here will get worried. I don’t think flash floods and landslides can be averted now but I think these could be lessened,” he said.

He added that illegal farming in Bertam Valley was getting rampant.

“This will, however, require more monitoring and enforcement to prevent more land from being cleared,” he said.

Mazlan, 42, also felt that the unscrupulous people involved in the land clearing were smart.

“They will go deep into forest areas that are not visible from the road to set up their farms. This issue is really getting out of control,” he said.

Tour consultant P.E. Govinda, 41, said he understood that land clearing activities were taking place in Kuala Terla and Bertam Valley.

“Some are visible to the eye but there are also some that are deep in the forest. Urbanised areas and tourist spots like Tanah Rata and Brin­chang are not badly affected,” he said.

Govinda said tourists who came to the highlands often asked him about climate change.

“Many were complaining about the warming weather. They are also complaining about the exposed land, making the area look ugly,” he said.

He said the district council should do more to control land clearing.

“How much land clearing are they approving and are they going to check on these activities?” he asked.

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