MALAYSIA: Uncontrolled logging may be the cause
Copyright 2001 New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad
December 29, 2001
GUA MUSANG, Fri. - The floods which hit Hulu Kelantan last week is believed to have been caused by uncontrolled logging and encroachment on forest areas lately. Member of Parliament for Gua Musang Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah said
yesterday that the floods should not have reached that magnitude as most of the residential areas were located on high ground.
"By right, this area is far safer compared with other districts in Kelantan, including Kota Baru, which is flooded every time during the monsoon season."
He said continuous rain over 24 hours did occur 10 years ago but major floods did not happen then due to forest conservation and preservation efforts.
"But this has changed since and water from main rivers like Sungai Galas, Ketil and Nenggiri, easily overflowed their banks due to higher volume of run-off water from hilly areas in the surrounding areas."
Tengku Razaleigh was speaking after visiting residents whose houses were swept away at the height of the floods.
In the incident last Saturday, 14 houses were swept away by the strong undercurrents while numerous others were damaged.