Groups: Strictly enforce laws

The Star  24/10/2002 By Clarence Chua

PETALING JAYA: The authorities have been urged to strictly enforce environmental laws in view of the increase in landslides throughout the country lately.  

House Buyers Association chairman Datuk Zainuddin Bachik said such occurrences were mainly due to a lack of enforcement and improper planning. 

“Before a housing project is approved, it is important that developers submit a geological and environment impact report to the local authorities,” he said. 

He was responding to press reports that the National Disaster Relief and Management Committee had recorded an increase in landslides nationwide, caused by intensive property development.  

World Wildlife Fund media and public affairs chief Teoh Teik Hwang concurred that there was a lack of enforcement and an overlapping of duties. 

“A Cabinet committee is needed to co-ordinate the overlapping duties,” he said.