Batang Kali landslide: Sam urges formation of Commission of Inquiry
The landslide incident at Father's Organic Farm. Smaller image, Meenakshi. Photo by Selangor APM.
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The Commission of Inquiry is seen as necessary to implement prevention and recovery measures.Its president Meenakshi Raman said SAM had previously given warnings regarding the land activities at the area and at hillsides, all of which were environmentally sensitive areas.
"The cause of the tragedy must be investigated and be made public. Among the issues that the authorities need to investigate and look into is how the campsite was allowed to operate in that area and several other related matters.
"The images taken show that the high-slope collapse had occurred under the highway where it was close to the campsite. We want to know, what caused the landslide to happen." she said in a statement on Friday.
Meenakashi said authorities need to implement a moratorium on all hillside developments until a comprehensive review of the area's resilience to climate change and heavy rain was carried out.
"The government must identify the areas that are vulnerable and at high risk from the impact of climate change and take immediate steps to build a resilience to it.
"The current climate change is unpredictable and because of that, it is not appropriate to allow activities on the hillsides ," she said.
She urged for the parties responsible for the deaths of the victims in the Batang Kali landslide tragedy to be brought to justice.
