By Zaki Salleh
KUALA KANGSAR: Residents of Kampung Rambai Tujuh and nearby villages have held a meeting to protest the implementation of the forest plantation project at the 4,280 hectare Kledang Saiong Forest Reserve.
Also present at the meeting was Tebing Tinggi Legislative Assembly Member Dr Abdul Aziz Bari and several representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
In the meeting, the villagers expressed their complete objection to the project because it risks causing major flood problems, water surge, landslides, conflicts with wildlife and ecosystem disturbances.
The chairman of the Kampung Rambai Tujuh Action Committee, Dailami Zahari, said his party would send the objection in a memorandum to the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
According to him, this is because previous objections sent to the Palace, Menteri Besar Perak and the Environment Minister were ignored.
“The residents are so worried that if this project continues, the villagers will become victims of flood disasters that have happened many times before such as in Baling Kedah, Kelantan and so on.
“In addition, the main river that flows into the village area originates from the area of the logging project.
“We will make preparations to present this objection to the Office Tambun Member of Parliament who is also the Prime Minister in the near future together with NGOs and other villagers who are also affected if this project is implemented,” he said.
