Who is behind this? PSM lodges police report over Kledang Saiong clearing work

(TheStar) – Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) has lodged a police report over the land clearing in the Kledang Saiong hills near Ipoh.

In the report, central committee member Moharani Rasiah questioned the Perak government for not noticing the visible land-clearing earlier.

“How did the land clearing go unnoticed by any government department when the public could see it since January?

“We want the police the investigate how the project went undiscovered.

She added that the party is concerned over the statement made by MB Inc on Friday (Feb 8) about the plan to develop mixed property on the land that was cleared earlier.

“Hillside development might cause floods and landslides. If MB Inc plans to develop the area, will it be safe for the public, nearby residents and Ipoh-Lumut highway users?

“Why did they choose this spot for the project when it can be done at other flat pieces of vacant land in Perak,” said Moharani.

It was reported on Wednesday (Feb 6) that about 10ha of land in Kledang Saiong had been illegally cleared.

After complaints from members of the public and Sahabat Alam Malaysia, it was later revealed that the clearing was done to plant oil palm trees.

On Friday (Feb 8), Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu asked the public to give the government some time to come up with a proper plan to develop the area.

Former Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj, who was also present, suggested that instead of building residential units in the area, they could use the former estate land to build affordable homes for the people.

“We also want police to investigate the entrance to the project. Is it an existing road or did they clear it for the project and was it an organised illegal land clearing?” said Dr Jeyakumar.