District council issues stop work order for project on reforestation land

IPOH: A stop-work order has been issued to the Perak Corporation Berhad (PCB) for carrying out works at a plot of reforestation land in Tanjung Malim without prior approval from the authorities.

Tanjung Malim District Council president Faizal Nizam Md Nor said that the PCB has been informed to stop the land clearing works immediately at a piece of land in front of Lot 20402 in Hulu Bernam.

Faizal said the notice has already been sent to the government-linked company under Section 70A of the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974.

“PCB has also been informed to ensure that with the stop-work order in place, no disasters such as landslides, floods and water pollution occurs.

“They must also comply with several conditions including to submit the work plans to the council for approval, to clean the dirty roads at the residential areas due to the project works, and to repair any damage caused by the works, ” he added.

Faizal had issued a statement after the news portal Malaysiakini carried a story on rainforest trees being bulldozed near the Tanjung Malim-Selangor border.

The trees, according to the report, are part of a lifelong and painstaking reforestation project led by 84-year-old James Kingham, who planted a whole forest in an area of 81ha with 1,200 species of rare forest trees.

Kingham's annual lease on the land was not renewed, and the state-owned land was sold to a new owner.

Faizal added that it was an offence for anyone to start work without first submitting plans and specifications to the council.

He said if legal action is taken, the offender is liable for a jail term of not more than five years, or could be fined not exceeding RM50,000, or both.