The fact that this is now happening at higher elevations goes to show that deforestation is taking place closer to the top to open up new farmlands. The vegetable and fruit industry is a big money making industry in the highlands and as land eventually get used up at lower elevations, the farmers move higher up in search of more pristine swathes of land which also have cooler climes. The higher the elevation the cooler the climate and the better it is for vegetable and fruit farming.
Again the never ending debate between economic development and preserving nature comes into the picture. Malaysia being a developing nation, the tendency to favor economic development over preserving nature is always higher. Sadly, this comes at a high cost and and even bleaker long term outlook. It is due time for people to reflect upon short term economic gains versus a destroyed natural environment that might be gone forever.
The full newspaper report (dated 18th of May 2017) can be read as shown below:
CAMERON HIGHLANDS: The floods may have receded but residents at Kampung Baru Ringlet are preparing for the worst.
On Tuesday, a two-hour downpour caused a flash flood, affecting the police station there too.
Retired policeman Jamil Abdullah, 59, whose house is near the riverbank at the village, described the rainfall as “extraordinary”.
“I knew something was going to happen,” said Jamil, who shifted to Ringlet after the 2013 floods in Bertam.
“After that incident, the authorities built a barrier right beside the riverbank but this proved to be inadequate.
“On Tuesday, the river was moving swiftly and I had a feeling that it would break part of the barrier. And that happened, with water entering our home,” he told reporters in front of his residence.
Worried that another flood might occur, Jamil stored his valuables in a safe area and placed sandbags to reduce the impact of the overflowing river.
“I did not want to take any chance. I have experienced five floods since 2013. It is sickening but what can we do. We have spoken to the authorities so many times but there is no change,” said the visibly frustrated Jamil.
His neighbour A. Ganesan, 52, said floodwaters did not enter his hall because he built a small wall in front of his house door.
Wash out: Children looking for things to salvage among the debris after the flashflood hit Ringlet town in Cameron Highlands. — RONNIE CHIN/The Star
Water, however, entered his kitchen but the damage was not severe.
“The authorities will need to find a temporary solution to make sure that water does not enter our homes. We are really worried. We do not want another Bertam incident to happen. I want an end to all this,” he said.
Cameron Highlands OCPD Deputy Supt Hasadid A. Hamid said heavy rainfall since 5pm on Tuesday caused several areas to be inundated, affecting three police barracks and the Ringlet police station.
“No one was injured. The police station was not damaged,” he added.
DSP Hasadid said the floods lasted for about 30 minutes and waters began to recede at around 6pm.
Cameron Highlands DID engineer Tengku Suhaili Tengku Abbas said the department was looking at a long-term solution.
“For now, we will build barricades near the riverbanks but from July onwards, DID will start work to widen the river,” he added.
Tengku Suhaili said an eviction notice was given to 31 families in April but they had till July to vacate.
