What does it take for us to pay more attention to our Environment?

Residents and their elected Reps

Until the recent elections, most Malaysians were an apathetic lot. They really were.
The 'as long as it is not in my backyard' mentality still heeds. But it’s only my opinion.
I was told by a friend of mine, that if I could change my support for BN, then there is hope altogether for every other Malaysian. Yes, I am guilty as charged. A die hard Gomen supporter until recently, that is.

I was at the 'Save Ampang Hills' meeting today. Alerted by a fellow blogger Sri Menanti(read his post here), I got there in time for the start of the meeting. Three Resident Committees had gathered amidst three recently elected members of Parliament, as well as a State Exco member. State Council member for Tourism, Consumer Affairs and Environment, YB Elizabeth Wong was on site to receive the brief on the action committee's latest actions. The Ampang Hill which is to be developed by MAA, is part of the 141 hill slope development projects that was approved by the previous BN lead government. The resident committees of Taman Hijau, Ukay Heights and Taman TAR gathered to appeal to the current Pakatan Rakyat (People's Alliance) State Government to investigate 'approved' projects that were done at local council level in order to determine the feasibility as well as the environmental impact which could mitigate as a result of it. Taman Hijau RA President Datuk Abdul Aziz appealed to YB Azmin Ali, Member of Parliament for Gombak and State Assemblyman for Bukit Antarabangsa as well as YB Zuraida Kamarudin, MP for Ampang to provide their support and help in helping the RA's to halt the project.
Given the recent decision by the Selangor State Government to stop all hill slope projects (category 3&4 slopes are which slope with gradient of 29% or higher), the Ampang Hills project under the ownership of MAA, Malaysian Allied Assurance will have to stop. However, because MAA was given the conditional approval by the MPAJ (Ampang Jaya Municipal Council) in 2007, it seems for now, this project can only be appealed against by the RA's. YB Elizabeth Wong had added that though the State Exco can issue stop work orders and open investigations to these projects, she hoped that the RA's can utilise the channels available to them for now. This would mean the avenue of legal process.

YB Zuraida was more vocal and had vowed to ‘stand at the top of the hill’ should heavy machineries be brought in to clear the slope and jungle. During the gathering, residents were heard giving their opinion and thought to the representatives. One gentleman who immigrated from abroad had likened the behaviour of the developers to being drug pushers, placing interest in making money rather then protecting the environment. He reiterated that his decision to migrate to Ampang Jaya was because he loved it here, not particularly Malaysia, but Bukit Malawati! A local resident also pointed out how the public hearing on protest regarding the project was ‘bulldozed through’.

It is indeed disturbing to note that eventhough, the Highlands Tower tragedy (being the most deadly landslide tragedy of this nation) occurred in this same area, the local government can see it fit to approve such a high risk project. If nothing is done to stop these land grabbing, slope cutting, tree chopping developers to task, then we might as well follow the Brazilians in outdoing them to destroy the forest which so evidently needs protection. Shall we?

Of course not, and you can do your part in telling friends, and taking ownership, much like our friends in Ampang Hilir who are up in arms against indiscriminate development!
Start by sending emails of support to the MPAJ council, or better still show up for the next gathering where we can all join hands in saying enough!

save Ukay Heights has their own blog, and through their links, learn more about how other residents are facing uphill fights with their local council to save their environment

And here to fore more related news and issues surrounding Bukit Antarabangsa

(please visit myblog-tv.blogspot.com for the videos accompanying this report which shall be available for viewing from Tuesday 15^th April onwards)