KOTA KINABALU: A geologist has warned that the increase in tourism-related projects in Kundasang can lead to landslides reminiscent of what recently happened in Batang Kali, Selangor.
Felix Tongkul told FMT hill slopes would be damaged and weakened in the development of these projects.
He said Kundasang in particular was prone to landslides. He recalled that a large section of the car park outside Kinabalu Park collapsed into a ravine last year.
Kundasang is less than 100km from Kota Kinabalu and is popular among visitors for its cooler climate.
“The Kundasang area is one of the most geologically active areas in Sabah,” he said. “Hence, any development in this area, particularly those on steep hill slopes, is vulnerable to landslides.”
The car park collapse was not the only landslide in Kundasang. A larger landslide in 2011 destroyed a hillside resort and forced more than 100 people to evacuate their homes.
Given what happened last Friday in Batang Kali, the authorities must do more to regulate and monitor developments in the Kundasang area,” Tongkul said.
“High risk areas should be identified and development in these areas restricted. The authorities should also have ongoing public education on landslide hazards.”
Sabah Environmental Trust CEO Rahimatsah Amat spoke of the lack of enforcement on land use in Sabah.
He said a landslide was only one of many disasters waiting to happen in Sabah’s many tourist destinations, including campsites in popular locations such as Kiulu, Kota Belud and Bundu Tuhan.
“The homestays in these places were not planned for,” he said. “In fact, under the Tourism Industry Act, these structures are illegal. Campsites and permanent structures should not be built along river reserves.”
He said the state tourism board was exacerbating the situation by encouraging rural folk to engage in community-based tourism and by endorsing the illegal structures built on river reserves and state land reserves.
The number of family-run resorts, particularly in Kundasang, has increased considerably in recent years after the Sabah government launched community-based tourism to encourage the locals to take advantage of the industry.
However, there are concerns that some of these structures do not have the necessary permits from the local authorities and the fire department.
The entire Kundasang district is prone to minor tremors and soil movement. About 70% of the 50 sq km around Kundasang town have been designated as high-risk areas. - FMT
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