RANAU: Sabah is set to receive 18 additional early warning systems under the 13th Malaysia Plan as Putrajaya steps up efforts to protect communities living in geologically active areas such as Kundasang and Ranau.
Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup said the two highland districts remain among the ministry's priority areas due to ongoing risks posed by earthquakes, debris flows, slope failures and ground movement.
"My ministry carries out many projects in Kundasang and Ranau because this is a tectonic area where there is still significant ground movement and disaster risks such as earthquakes, debris flows and slope failures.
"As such, this is one of the ministry's focus areas and we have implemented various initiatives to improve the safety of residents, including the construction of early warning systems," he said after launching the Kampung Angkat Madani programme in Kampung Dumpiring Bawah, Kundasang, here, on Saturday (June 6).
Kurup said there are currently 34 early warning systems operating nationwide, with four in Sabah, including two in Kundasang.
Kurup noted that while development remains important, it must be balanced with environmental conservation, particularly in areas that rely heavily on agriculture and tourism.
"Why is agriculture thriving here? Why do tourists keep coming here? It is because of the natural environment.
"If everything is replaced with buildings and concrete, what attraction would remain for tourists?" he said.
Kurup said some natural phenomena, such as earthquakes, cannot be prevented, making disaster preparedness and mitigation measures crucial.
He said early warning systems help save lives and reduce damage to property by giving communities advance notice of potential hazards, allowing preventive measures to be taken.
During the event, Kurup also launched the Kampung Angkat Madani programme in Kampung Dumpiring Bawah, where the ministry allocated RM500,000 for the construction of a new community hall and related facilities to replace a structure built more than two decades ago.
Meanwhile, Sabah Deputy Chief Minister cum Kundasang assemblyman Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam welcomed the ministry's continued focus on Kundasang and Ranau, saying geological studies carried out by the Department of Minerals and Geoscience Malaysia should be shared directly with local communities.
He said this would help residents better understand geological risks, identify potentially dangerous areas and take precautions to avoid disasters.
"When studies are conducted, the findings should be shared directly with the community so that people know how to identify risks and avoid accidents," he said.
Joachim noted that certain high-risk locations had previously been identified by the authorities, citing the Lembah Permai area as an example where some locations had been designated as red zones because of geological risks.
