A nature group says the record rainfall contributed
                 to the Cameron Highlands landslide but the fault
                 lay mostly with human activities which was
                 avoidable

                 PETALING JAYA -- An environmental group has
                 blamed over-development of the highlands and improper
                 land use for the recent landslides in Cameron Highlands.

                 The Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) president Datuk
                 Dr Salleh Mohd Nor said: "Although the record rainfall
                 over Cameron Highlands contributed significantly to the
                 landslide, it was mostly because of human activities and
                 could have been avoided," he said.

                 "Erosion measures have to be maintained before, during
                 and after any project," he said in a press statement.

                 Dr Salleh said hill slopes were often cut to gain
                 additional top soil for farms, which could then aggravate
                 erosion problems.

                 Similarly with the flood problems, he said care must be
                 taken to stop silt from flowing into rivers.

                 "River buffer zones must be enforced to ensure there is
                 no development along the river. Natural forest and
                 vegetation should be protected as they act as sponges to
                 retain rainfall," he said.

                 Dr Salleh said the people must also play their part by
                 planting trees and avoid throwing rubbish into drains.

                 Meanwhile, the Sultan of Pahang, Sultan Ahmad Shah,
                 who visited the area on Wednesday, told reporters that
                 he would ask Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu
                 for supplementary allocations to reinforce the safety of
                 Cameron Highlands roads.

                 Sultan Ahmad Shah also indicated to reporters that
                 work to rebuild the collapsed stretches of the road
                 would take two months.

                 Residents of the Kampung Raja low-cost homes
                 displaced by the mudslide would be relocated at a new
                 housing scheme there upon completion of reclamation
                 work. --The Star/Asia News Network, Bernama
 
 

                 What can we do?The Malaysian Nature Society's
                 erosion prevention measures:

                  Enforcing river buffer zones to ensure that there is no
                 development along the river

                  Protecting natural forest and vegetation as they act as
                 sponges to retain rainfall

                  Planting trees and avoid throwing rubbish into drains

                        Adapted from The Straits Times, 14 Jan 2000.