Penang Hills Watch Report 20183 Penang Hills Watch Report 2018 1.0 Introduction The Penang Hills...

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1 Penang Hills Watch Report 2018 11th September 2018 Prepared by

Transcript of Penang Hills Watch Report 20183 Penang Hills Watch Report 2018 1.0 Introduction The Penang Hills...

Page 1: Penang Hills Watch Report 20183 Penang Hills Watch Report 2018 1.0 Introduction The Penang Hills Watch (PHW) was publicly launched by the Penang Forum (PF) on 31 October 2016, with

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Penang Hills Watch Report 2018

11th September 2018

Prepared by

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Contents

1.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 3

2.0 Records of public observations ............................................................................................................... 6

2.1 Zone 1: Northern Part of Penang Island .............................................................................................. 7

3.2 Zone 2: Middle Part of Penang Island .............................................................................................. 19

3.4 Zone 4: Seberang Perai ..................................................................................................................... 31

4.0 Follow up .............................................................................................................................................. 36

Page 3: Penang Hills Watch Report 20183 Penang Hills Watch Report 2018 1.0 Introduction The Penang Hills Watch (PHW) was publicly launched by the Penang Forum (PF) on 31 October 2016, with

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Penang Hills Watch Report 2018

1.0 Introduction The Penang Hills Watch (PHW) was publicly launched by the Penang Forum (PF) on 31 October

2016, with an invitation to the public to contribute on-the-ground observations on hill clearing

activities. Thus far, we have documented 180 cases of land clearing in the hills, out of which 90

cases are sourced from the data tabled during the DUN seating in 2015 and 2016 respectively

while we received 90 cases1 of land clearing and construction activities in the state from the

general public, which we have documented, mapped and displayed online through the PHW

portal https://hillclearinginpenang.ushahidi.io/views/map.

A week before the launch, PF members requested and had a meeting with a number of

government agencies including Majlis Bandaraya Pulau Pinang (MBPP), Jabatan Perhutanan

Negeri Pulau Pinang (JPNPP), Jabatan Ukur dan Pemetaan Malaysia (JUPEM) and Jabatan

Perancang Bandar Dan Desa Pulau Pinang (JPBDPP) when we explained the purpose of the

PHW project and demonstrated the online application.

We emphasized that the observations made in the field need to be checked against official

records to determine if the clearing activities have official approval or, whether these activities

need to be checked out and acted upon by the relevant government authorities. We therefore

suggested close cooperation with MBPP and other relevant government departments for mutual

exchange of information, and our suggestion was well received at the meeting.

The table below summarizes the reports we have submitted, meetings held and official written

responses received. To date we have not yet received MBPP written response to the Third PHW

report.

1 75 of the 90 cases have been referred to MBPP,MPSP and State Government while 15 have

been independently verified by the Penang State Government prior to our reports.

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This report constitutes our fourth compilation of observations since the launch at the end of

October 2016. In this fourth report, we seek clarification for a further 16 reports which are the

observations made between Oct 2017 and Aug 2018 as well as follow ups to cases reported in

the first, second and third report. We also seek to know the status of 14 reports (which come

under the jurisdiction of MBPP) which were submitted to MBPP last year. In this report, 13 of

the reports are from Penang Island while 3 are from Seberang Perai. Therefore we seek the

goodwill of both MBPP and MPSP in investigating cases under their respective jurisdiction.

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Summary of cases documented in four Penang Hills Watch

Report in from October 2016 to July 2018

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12

18 16

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5

10

15

20

25

30

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Report 1 Report 2 Report 3 Report 4

Hill Clearing Cases Documented by PHW

Report 1

Report 2

Report 3

Report 4

Distribution of Cases based on Council jurisdiction

Seberang Perai (MPSP)

Penang Island (MBPP)

68

2016 2017 2017 2018

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2.0 Records of public observations

PHW reports have been obtained from various locations around Penang State (including

Seberang Perai) and are divided into separate geographic zones.

Each report is identified by

A photo (or photos)

Nearest landmark, township or road

Approximate coordinates

Report and Photo date (Photo dates might vary from the report date)

Reports are grouped by three zones where they are obtained from. The zones are as follows;

Zone 1 - Northern part of Penang Island

Zone 2 - Middle part of Penang Island

Zone 3 - Southern part of Penang Island

Zone 4 - Seberang Perai

The location of these regions are indicated in the illustrated map below with their locations as

numbered earlier. Zone 1 has 8 reports, Zone 2 has 5 reports, Zone 3 has 3 reports and Zone 4

has 3 reports, bringing the total number of reports for investigation to 19 . The numbering

sequence will begin from number 60 as our previous report sent in September 2017 ended at

number 59.

Photo 1: Four zones covered in the PHW Report

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2.1 Zone 1: Northern Part of Penang Island

Report 60

Location : Hillslope near Mount Erskine

Approximate Coordinates : 5°26'47.00"N, 100°17'51.90"E

Photo taken in Nov 2017.

Observation and comments

This hillslope behind the Mount Erskine Market remains exposed to the elements. It is just uphill

from a new residential project. The Google Earth images below show the extent of hill clearing

that had happened, comparing the situation in March 2016 with that in February 2018.

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Mar 2016

Feb 2018

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Report 61

Location : Tiger Hill, Penang Hill

Approximate Coordinates : 5°24'54.0"N 100°14'27.5"E

Photo taken in Oct 2017.

Observation and comments

This clearing of tree cover in the Tiger Hill Valley is presumably for agricultural activities. The

clearing began sometime between January 2016 and Dec 2017 as indicated by the Google Earth

images below. This location is within the water catchment area for Sungai Pinang Barat.

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Jan 2016

Dec 2017

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Report 62

Location : Bukit Cendana (facing Air Itam)

Approximate Coordinates: 5°25'10.7"N 100°17'08.8"

Photo taken in Nov 2017.

Observation and comments

Agricultural clearing of secondary forest on the slopes of Bukit Cendana; note that the cleared

area (in the February 2018 image below) was under tree cover in February 2013.

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Feb 2013

Feb 2018

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Report 63

Location : Hillslope in Teluk Bahang Catchment

Approximate Coordinates : 5°25'07.5"N 100°12'30.7"E

Photo taken in Nov 2017.

Observation and comments

Clearing took place sometime between 2014 and 2015 and has remained exposed till now. Two

landslips can also be noticed from the Google Earth image below. The location of this clearing is

within the Teluk Bahang Catchment area.

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May 2014

Sept 2017

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Report 64

Location : Hillslope facing Sungai Pinang (Balik Pulau

Approximate Coordinates: 5°23'49.1"N 100°13'24.5"E

Photo taken in Feb 2018.

Observation and comments

Cleared area was previously also used for agriculture, and the clearing done seems to be for new

crops. However the size of the cleared area may result in soil erosion as a large area of the hill

slope has been exposed due to this clearing.

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Report 65

Location : Sungai Kelian Catchment area

Approximate Coordinates: 5°27'09"N 100°16'20"E.

Photo taken in May 2018.

Observation and comments

We would want to know the current status of the rehabilitation of this slope in the Sungai Kelian

Catchment area. Since the May landslide discharge from Sungai Kelian becomes sediment laden

each time there is heavy rainfall. For example the photo below taken on 3rd September 2018

shows the discharge of sediment-laden water into the sea from Sungai Kelian. Note also the

siltation resulting in narrowing of the river mouth.

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Report 66

Location : Behind Island Resort

Approximate Coordinates: 5°28'35.4"N 100°15'57.8"E

Photo taken in August 2018.

Observation and comments

This clearing for an access path began in August 2018 behind the Island Resort area. As it is

uphill behind Island Resort and a few other condominiums it would pose a risk as soil erosion

could happen if it rains.

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3.2 Zone 2: Middle Part of Penang Island

Report 67

Mar 2014

Mar 2016

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Feb 2018

Location : Bukit Kukus

Approximate Coordinates : 5°21'56.4"N 100°16'59.4"E

Observation and comments

This hill slope clearing began in 2013, becoming visible in 2014, and continuously expanding

from then. It was reported in the PHW Report 1 which was submitted in January 2017. The

response obtained was that the land works were not approved, a stop work order set in Sept

2013, and mitigation work is being done. However the google earth image still shows that a huge

part of the slope is barren as of February 2018, while access roads have been built.

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Report 68

Feb 2015

Feb 2018

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Location : Bukit Kukus (facing Paya Terubong)

Approximate Coordinates : 5°22'01.4"N 100°16'52.1"E

Observation and comments

This site initially was the site of a landslide which originates from the terraced slope of Report

68 which happened between March 2014 and May 2014. However the bottom of this landslide

has been terraced and slightly expanded. It is unsure what nature of activity is taking place there

but note that the surrounding area is all agricultural land.

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Report 69

Mar 2016

Feb 2018

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Location : Bukit Kukus (near the peak)

Approximate Coordinates : 5°21'12.5"N 100°16'48.7"E.

Report sent in Feb 2018, satellite imagery from Feb 2018.

Observation and comments

From the above Google Earth images, clearing of tree cover for agriculture began between

March 2016 and February 2018. The elevation of the clearing activity exceeds the 1000 ft

contour and is located close to the peak of Bukit Kukus.

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Report 70

Location : Paya Terubong

Approximate Coordinates : 5°21'48.0"N 100°16'33.8"E

Photo taken in Feb 2018.

Observation and comments

This is the same Bukit Kukus location as Report 12 in the First PHW report, to which MBPP

response was that Report 12 refers to approved earth works and NBK issued to developer Sri &

Sri Associates SB on 17 Jun 2014. It was pointed out in the Second PHW report that Google

Earth images from Mar 2014 to Mar 2016 (the top 4 below) showed more extensive slope

cutting.

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Additional Google Earth images from Aug 2017 to Feb 2018 (the bottom 4) show even more

extensive hill clearing and exposed slopes for the construction of the Paya Terubong Paired

Road, without any mitigation measures to prevent soil erosion. This site had been a major

contributor of eroded soil being washed away with heavy rainfall runoff causing flooding of

mud-laden waters all the way down the Sg Dondang-Sg Air Itam-Sg Pinang rivers on 04-05

November 2017

Further south towards the Relau area, more hill clearing activities (marked by the yellow

polygons on the right in the Google Earth images below) are evident, comparing the December

2015 and February 2018 images.

Dec 2015

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Feb 2018

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Report 71

Location : Hillslope in Sungai Ara (near Malihom Private Estate)

Approximate Coordinates : 5°19'24.5"N 100°14'18.7"E

Photo taken in July 2018.

Observation and comments

This clearing activity happened sometime between mid 2016 and 2017, and involves an

agricultural land which was previously planted with rubber. While it has been cleared supposedly

for the next batch of crops to be planted, it has remained barren as of July 2018, exposing the

slope to possible erosion.

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Oct 2015

July 2018

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Report 72

Location : Hillslope in Sungai Ara (near the peak of Bukit Gambir Sungai Ara)

Approximate Coordinates : 5°19'01.7"N 100°14'58.1"E

Photo taken in August 2018.

Observation and comments

This clearing looks like it has been done for making an access road, however its large footprint

and area of forest clearing done also point to possibly future agricultural activity in the area. In

the short term, this could contribute to land erosion and possibly landslides.

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3.4 Zone 4: Seberang Perai

Report 73

Location : Bukit Panchor State Park

Approximate Coordinates: 5°09'04.5"N 100°32'34.0"E

Photo taken in Feb 2018.

Observation and comments

The cut tree bears markings resembling poaching for agar wood. Along the a trail in the Park.

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Report 74

Dec 2015

Feb 2018

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Location : Near Bukit Juru (Jalan Sungai Semilang)

Approximate Coordinates: 5°19'23.4"N 100°24'19.1"E

Report sent in Feb 2018, photo taken in Feb 2018.

Observation and comments

The Quarry has been in operation for a long time however what is worrying is the current

expansion in an easterly direction and up the slopes of Bukit Juru. An area of hill forest has been

cleared for this quarry expansion. It is worth mentioning that part of Bukit Juru is also gazetted

as the Bukit Juru Permanent forest reserve, however it is not known if this clearing has

encroached upon the forest reserve.

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Report 75

Location : Bukit Juru Forest Reserve

Approximate Coordinates: 5°19'42.0"N 100°24'38.1"E

Poto taken in August 2017.

Observation and comments

Reports on clearing and burning of forest area inside the Bukit Juru Forest Reserve along its

main trail were received towards the end of August 2017. The Google Earth images confirm that

the clearing/burning occurred and destroyed an area of forest on the peak of Bukit Juru. It

remains as a burnt patch as of February 2018.

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August 2017

Feb 2018

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4.0 Follow up

We seek MBPP and MPSP’s assistance to look through the above observed reports and

comment:

1. If the land clearing activity is legally sanctioned;

2. The purpose of the land clearing activity;

3. The land use status of the affected site;

4. If the activity is legal, the highest elevation from sea level in the activity site, and

5. If any action needs to be taken on the part of the Council or other government

departments.

We appreciate that during his tenure as State Executive Councilor for Local Government, Traffic

Management and Environment, YB Chow Kon Yeow had chaired two meetings with the

members of the Penang Forum in 2017 to discuss the first and second PHW report, and we hope

this willingness to engage us will continue with YB Zairil Khir Johari taking over as EXCO

member in charge. We sincerely hope that in future meetings there would be wider

representation of the relevant agencies where reported cases fall within their jurisdiction.

We look forward to your continued assistance and attention to these new cases highlighted in this

fourth report and hope to receive your written answer in regards to it.

Thank you.

Penang Forum Steering Committee

September 2018