Silt in Cameron dam a rising threat
Environmental activists in Cameron Highlands are warning that uncontrolled land development near the Sultan Abu Bakar Dam is causing severe siltation. They argue that sediment runoff threatens the dam's capacity and increases the risk of catastrophic flooding similar to the 2013 disaster.
Why it matters
This highlights the tension between rapid economic development and the necessity of environmental preservation and public safety in vulnerable highland regions.
IPOH: An environmental group has raised concerns over development near the Sultan Abu Bakar Dam in Cameron Highlands, warning that land clearing and sediment runoff could increase the risk of flooding and damage the area’s fragile ecosystem.
Regional Environmental Awareness Cameron Highlands president A. Dilip Martin said a large tract of land had been cleared, with soil and silt washing into the dam.
He believes the land is being developed for farms, commercial projects and residential areas.
“Residents have been raising concerns over the past two years. We hope the relevant authorities will take these concerns seriously and act before something bad happens,” Dilip said in an interview.
“People here have not forgotten the tragic flood in 2013,” he said.
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