The rape of Teluk Bahang

GEORGE TOWN: Many villagers in Teluk Bahang are in the dark about land clearing activities on a hill near their place.
Latifah Mohd Yusuf, 63, told theSun she had no idea what was going on the hill-slope near the dam until being told.
She did, however, notice heavy machinery vehicles using the narrow, sandy road heading towards the cleared hill, which view was blocked by hoardings and bushes.
But "I am very sure many of us are in the dark as to what is going on," she added when met at her wooden house on the narrow road.
Latifah felt strongly that those responsible for the massive clearing on the hill should be taken to task and given a heavy penalty or even jailed.
"All these land-clearing activities are affecting our environment. Look at what is happening now – the heatwave has already taken a toll on people and if unchecked, the El Nino effect will worsen in years to come," she said.
The hill land being cleared sits near the dam, which is currently at a low point.
Padzil Dali, 83, who noted that lorries and excavators were entering the village during the wee hours, did not suspect land was being cleared.
"The clearing activities will pose a danger to the villagers during a heavy downpour," he said, adding that it should be stopped now.
Several excavators and a few foreign workers were spotted at the site during theSun visit today.
Muhd Madazmin Azman, 16, who stays with his ailing mother, thought quarrying activities had stopped years ago.
Teluk Bahang assemblyman Datuk Shah Headan Hussain Ayob Shah, took the state to task for the land clearing near the dam which he described as "outrageous".
He said the local authorities must explain why they allowed such a huge deforestation of the hill.
State Environment committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said the matter was being looked into by state secretary Datuk Seri Farizan Darus, while the district land officers had started an investigation.