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Report: Campsite in deadly Batang Kali landslide may have been inside ‘no-go area’
Rescue personnel work at the site of a landslide at the Father's Organic Farm campsite in Batang Kali, December 19, 2022. — Picture by Shafwan Zaidon
Friday, 20 Jan 2023 11:18 AM MYT
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 20 — Preliminary reports from an ongoing investigation into the landslide in The Father’s Organic Farm campsite along the Batang Kali-Genting Highlands road showed that the affected campsite was not on land zoned for agricultural, commercial, or recreational use.
According to the VOA website, an unnamed representative from the Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry said the campsite was instead located in a prohibited zone.
“The area of which Father’s Organic Farm was built had been determined as a No-Go Area. Therefore, the development of Father’s Organic Farm was in violation of the approval conditions of the EIA (environmental impact assessment) report approved to Malaysia Botanical Gardens Resort Sdn. Bhd,” the representative was quoted as saying.
The EIA report submitted by Malaysia Botanical Gardens Resort was approved in January 2013.
At a press conference yesterday, Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said preliminary reports indicated that the victims could have been in an area inappropriate for farming, business, or camping activity.
However, the minister said he would reserve comments until the final report was available.
He said the full report is expected to be completed by the end of January, but said there were some “gray areas” that require clarification.
The tragic landslide that struck at 2.42am on December 16 killed 31 people including 18 adults, and 13 children. The remaining 61 victims out of 92 reported victims survived.
On December 27, Selangor police chief Arjunaidi Mohamed said investigations were at 90 per cent completion. Until today, no charges have been filed.
After the tragedy, the state government is in the process of drafting an official camping guideline.
Friday, 20 Jan 2023 11:18 AM MYT
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 20 — Preliminary reports from an ongoing investigation into the landslide in The Father’s Organic Farm campsite along the Batang Kali-Genting Highlands road showed that the affected campsite was not on land zoned for agricultural, commercial, or recreational use.
According to the VOA website, an unnamed representative from the Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry said the campsite was instead located in a prohibited zone.
“The area of which Father’s Organic Farm was built had been determined as a No-Go Area. Therefore, the development of Father’s Organic Farm was in violation of the approval conditions of the EIA (environmental impact assessment) report approved to Malaysia Botanical Gardens Resort Sdn. Bhd,” the representative was quoted as saying.
The EIA report submitted by Malaysia Botanical Gardens Resort was approved in January 2013.
At a press conference yesterday, Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said preliminary reports indicated that the victims could have been in an area inappropriate for farming, business, or camping activity.
However, the minister said he would reserve comments until the final report was available.
He said the full report is expected to be completed by the end of January, but said there were some “gray areas” that require clarification.
The tragic landslide that struck at 2.42am on December 16 killed 31 people including 18 adults, and 13 children. The remaining 61 victims out of 92 reported victims survived.
On December 27, Selangor police chief Arjunaidi Mohamed said investigations were at 90 per cent completion. Until today, no charges have been filed.
After the tragedy, the state government is in the process of drafting an official camping guideline.
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