IPOH: A total of 18 out of 25 critical slopes in Perak are in high risk of landslides, says the state Mineral and Geoscience Department.

Its director Nizarulikram Abdul Rahim said these locations were deemed as high-risk due to their proximity to populated areas or places with human activities.

These locations included Kinta Valley Geosites such as Gunung Lang, Gua Matsoorat and cave temples like Perak Tong, Kek Look Tong and Kong Fook Ngam.

Other locations included Kampung Hijrah Chemor, Masjid Jamek Kampung Tanjung Kala (Hulu Perak), Taman Gemilang, Seri Iskandar, Persiaran Alam Impian (Pangkor) and Taiping Vistana Avenue.

“The main factor that could cause landslides in these areas is related to significant weather changes where the rain intensity exceeds normal levels.

“Other factors included poorly-planned land development in slope and rain catchment areas, and uncontrolled quarrying and logging activities,” Nizarulikram said when contacted.

He said the department was directly involved in providing its views for any planned development project in the state.

“We always emphasise on the technical aspects of development near slopes, the type of land, environmental preservation and notification of geological hazards and risks in an area,” he added.

Nizarulikram said the department and several other agencies had conducted Community-based Disaster Risk Management programmes to prepare residents for any geological disasters.

“Through this programme, the community in the respective areas that have had some natural disaster incidents or are at risk will be trained by the department to be the ‘local champions’ in handling matters about geological disasters like landslides.

“The champions are also trained to use the latest technology to do evaluations (for risks),” he said, adding that the awareness programme was important to educate the people to be resilient, especially in areas at risk of landslides.

“We have also conducted awareness programmes on slope safety and landslides and distributed brochures on early signs of landslides to the people,” he said.

IPOH, 27 Ogos (Bernama) -- Kerajaan Persekutuan setakat ini tiada sebarang perancangan untuk menguruskan hasil unsur nadir bumi bukan radioaktif (NR-REE) termasuk melalui syarikat berkaitan kerajaan (GLC).
Menteri Sumber Asli dan Kelestarian Alam Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad berkata pihaknya kini hanya dalam perbincangan melibatkan kerangka industri REE sebagaimana yang dihasratkan oleh Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim sebelum ini supaya negara tidak sekadar menggali, tetapi turut menjual bahan mentah. "Saya ingat Perak dah lalui proses itu sebelum ini sebagai pengeluar timah dan sebagainya, kita nak seperti dalam industri minyak, kita gali dan juga proses di negara ini, jadi dapat pulangan kepada negara.

"Jadi tentang soal untuk tubuhkan GLC dan sebagainya, tidak timbul buat masa ini walaupun ada dicadangkan di perbahasan Parlimen. Kita bergerak mengikut kerangka Perlembagaan dengan mineral selain daripada minyak dan gas terletak di bawah kerajaan negeri," katanya pada sidang media dekat sini hari ini.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika diminta mengulas sekiranya terdapat rancangan untuk menubuhkan GLC bagi menguruskan hasil NR-REE di negeri terlibat.
Ditanya jika terdapat kekhuatiran hasil NR-REE mungkin diuruskan GLC, Nik Nazmi menjawab: "Tiada kekhuatiran itu."

Julai lepas, Menteri Besar Perak Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad pada persidangan Dewan Undangan Negeri Perak berkata kerajaan negeri akan memastikan NR-REE kekal milik kerajaan negeri dan tidak akan diuruskan oleh GLC.

BERNAMA

IPOH - Kerajaan Persekutuan setakat ini tiada sebarang perancangan untuk menguruskan hasil unsur nadir bumi bukan radioaktif (NR-REE) termasuk melalui syarikat berkaitan kerajaan (GLC).

Menteri Sumber Asli dan Kelestarian Alam, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad berkata, pihaknya kini hanya dalam perbincangan melibatkan kerangka industri REE sebagaimana yang dihasratkan oleh Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim sebelum ini supaya negara tidak sekadar menggali, tetapi turut menjual bahan mentah.

"Saya ingat Perak dah lalui proses itu sebelum ini sebagai pengeluar timah dan sebagainya, kita nak seperti dalam industri minyak, kita gali dan juga proses di negara ini, jadi dapat pulangan kepada negara.

"Jadi tentang soal untuk tubuhkan GLC dan sebagainya, tidak timbul buat masa ini walaupun ada dicadangkan di perbahasan Parlimen.

IPOH, Aug 27 (Bernama) -- All development carried out must adhere to the guidelines set by the Department of Town and Country Planning (PLANMalaysia) to prevent unwanted incidents, said Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

He said the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES), through the Department of Minerals and Geosciences Malaysia (JMG), will assess the land condition, while the Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia and the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) will do the same for development that affects forests and wildlife.

He said PLANMalaysia, which is under the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT), has valid reasons for establishing the Environmentally Sensitive Areas (KSAS).

"We know that land is a state matter, which is why our guidelines are directed to state governments or local authorities (local government authorities) that approve the Planning Permission (KM), as it falls within their jurisdiction.

"When PLANMalaysia designates an area as an Environmentally Sensitive Area or when the Department of Environment (DOE) issues warnings in reports like the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), it is for a reason," he told a press conference here today.

He said this when asked whether NRES is involved in reviewing reports on land clearing for agricultural purposes to ensure the affected area is safe and does not lead to disasters such as floods and water surge phenomena.

He said the reason for PLANMalaysia establishing KSAS and the DOE strict in issuing the EIA report is to ensure public safety, as well as to prioritise environmental protection.

Regarding the water surge incident in Ulu Slim, he advised the public to exercise caution when planning picnics at river sites and to always follow the advice and guidelines issued by the authorities.

Meanwhile, regarding complaints about air and odour pollution in the Simpang Pulai area, Nik Nazmi said the DOE had inspected a scheduled waste recovery facility in Simpang Pulai, which was said to be the cause of the air and odour pollution in the area and several actions had been taken.

- BERNAMA