Growing Population Depends on the Park

 It was interesting to read the findings, as reported in The Star newspaper, from the nationwide census conducted by the Statistics Department between July 6 and Aug 22, 2010. 

Based on the census findings, Selangor continued to be the most populated state, with 5.4 million or 19.3% of the country's population, followed by Johor with 3.3 million and Sabah at 3.2 million.  Putrajaya had the highest population growth during the 2000 to 2010 period, with 17.8%.

The findings also related that in tandem with the country's rapid development, the proportion of urban population increased to 71% in 2010 compared to 62% in 2000, with the highest levels of urbanization occurring in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, Selangor and Penang.

Given the concentration of Malaysia’s population that is living in Selangor, KL and Putrajaya, and the growing urbanization of the area, it would be most prudent that the government carefully guards the natural resources that support and sustain this population.

The most basic and critical resource to supporting this population is water.  It would seem very unwise of the government to jeopardize even one drop of the existing water supply, as it is currently sufficient to meet the needs of the population. Other areas of the country are growing rapidly, too, so we cannot expect to be able to send all of the Peninsula’s water resource to the Klang Valley alone.  The federal government will already be sending water from Pahang to Selangor, through the nearly RM11 billion Selangor-Pahang raw water transfer project.  What happens when Johor needs more water, too?

Given that the Selangor State Park is the source of nearly 98% of the water supply for Selangor, KL and Putrajaya, it would seem irresponsible of the government to jeopardize the forests of the Park, that protect this water supply.  Only if the forests of the Park remain healthy and intact, can the Park can continue to feed the 5 main reservoirs that supply the bulk of our current water that is needed to meet our existing demands, not to mention our growing future needs.

That is why TrEES, together with a number of other NGOs and residents groups, are against the alignment of the KL Outer Ring Road, a highway that is planned to cut through 2 water catchment areas of the Park.  One area is the Klang Gates Reservoir, which is the source of clean water for the Golden Triangle, KL.  The second catchment forest affected is the Ampang Forest, which supplies clean water to residents in the Ampang area.

Yes, the traffic is bad on the MMR2.  A solution needs to be found.  But prioritizing a highway over our water supply seems an extremely poor solution. 

Water is so critical to our lives.  The government needs to manage our water resources with great care and prudence, if we want to make sure there is enough water for our growing population.

Stand Up & Write

If you are concerned about the Park, the forests in Malaysia, and the environment in general, please stand up & write.

The forests, animals and plants cannot speak.  We need to speak for them.  Write a letter to voice your concerns.  Write to your ADUN, your MP, write to the PM, put a post on his facebook site, write to the newspapers and to your favorite blogger.

Here are some contacts, to help you get started!

Y.A.B. Dato' Sri Mohd Najib bin Abdul Razak
Prime Minister   Email:  ppm@pmo.gov.my  
FB:  http://www.facebook.com/najibrazak
 Najib Razak on Facebook

Y.B. Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas
Minister of Natural Resources and Environment
Email:  uggah@nre.gov.my
FB:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Douglas-Uggah-Embas/142244839119126
Douglas Uggah Embas on Facebook


Y.A.B. Tan Sri Dato' Abdul Khalid bin Ibrahim
Dato' Menteri Besar Selangor
Email:  mb14_selangor@yahoo.com
FB:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Abdul-Khalid-Ibrahim/38012338900?sk=wall
Abdul Khalid Ibrahim on Facebook

Malaysiakini          editor@malaysiakini.com

The Nut Graph      editor@thenutgraph.com

The Sun                 letters@thesundaily.com

The Star                 editor@thestar.com.my

Berita Harian         bhsurat@bharian.com.my

Sin Chew Jit Poh  info@sinchew-i.com

Fraser’s Hill – a fun family getaway

Many people don't realize it, but the forests in the Selangor section of Fraser’s Hill, and along the road that winds up to the hill resort, are part of Taman Negeri Selangor. 

It’s nicest to begin the experience from Kuala Kubu Bharu, a quaint government town that shouldn’t be missed on the way up to Fraser’s Hill.  Of course, KKB is not part of the Park, but it is lovely town that borders the Park, and is full of old buildings and history.

From KKB, you take the E55.  Driving up this windy road, you pass the Sungai Selangor dam. The Sungai Selangor reservoir is the largest supply of freshwater to residents in Selangor.  Completed in 2002, construction of dam itself was hotly protested, due to the rich forest, and community lands the reservoir inundated.  Now, as you drive along the road, it almost seems as if the dam always existed.

After the Sg. Selangor Dam, the road enters the forests of Taman Negeri Selangor.  These forests play a critical role as water catchment for the reservoir.   To the left and right you can see beautiful forest trees, which comprise the species-rich dipterocarp forests on hilly and mountainous terrain.  These area of the Park tends to be steep slopes of more than 45 degrees, and there is a general decline in the number of dipterocarps and an increase in non-dipterocarps such as Fagaceae, or commonly known as oaks, as you drive further up into the hills.

About half way through the journey you can take a break at the Sg. Semangkok Forest Recreation site.  It is a small waterfall and picnic area that is just at the road side, so there is no long walk to find the waterfall!  It can make for a nice place to take a few photos and stretch your legs.

Continuing on in the journey, you pass a small signboard that marks the site where the British High Commissioner in Malaya, Sir Henry Gurney, and his motorcade was ambushed by communists in 1951.  Thirteen British soldiers along with Sir Henry were killed in the attack. 

The Gap, a famous place to rest just before you make the final assent to Fraser’s Hill Resort, is sadly in a bad state.  It was closed down a few years ago.  According to the work sign, it was closed for restoration and renovation, but this seems to have been totally abandoned, and the old rest-house is deteriorating into quite an eye-soar.  On the opposite side of the road, a grand walking bridge was constructed.  Perhaps all the money for the renovations went into the bridge! While the bridge was recently completed, panels along parts of the side rails are already falling off, sad to say.

On our most recent trip up to Fraser’s Hill, you no longer need to wait at the Gap for the ‘odd-up’ or ‘even-down’ road closure.  The Gap road seems to be always open now for the drive UP to Fraser’s Hill, and the new road at the Pahang side is always open for the drive down. 

The Gap and Fraser’s Hill have always been popular places for birder watchers.  Bird species include six species of hornbill and the Great Argus Pheasant.   In the upper parts of the hill forests and lower montane forests, the giant fishtail palm Caryota maxima and the giant rattan Plectocomia griffithii create impressive sites.

The Gap road borders along the Fraser’s Hill Wildlife Reserve.  With the declaration of the gazettement of Taman Negeri Selangor, the forests of the wildlife reserve is now also gazetted as permanent forest reserve classified as part of the State Park.

The lower montane forests below and around Fraser’s Hill are rich in both plant and animal species.  One unusual plant species is the climbing bamboo Maclurochloa montana, and it is known only from a few sites in Peninsula Malaysia.  Wildlife in the Park around the Fraser's Hill area includes three species of gibbon, flying lemurs, slow loris.

In Fraser’s Hill itself, there are a number of great nature walks, fun activities, as well as just simply strolling along the sidewalks in the cool air, that make this spot a fun and refreshing break from the city.  On the Selangor side, you can stay at the Selangor Bungalow.  The Kindersley Trail also starts from the Selangor side, near the Methodist bungalow.

So the next time you need an overnight break from the city, drive up to Fraser’s Hill and experience the magnificence of Taman Negeri Selangor along the way!


GPS Coordinates:
The Gap:       3°41'34.5"N 101°44'54.8"E
Fraser's Hill, Selangor:       3.7073° N, 101.7377° E