The Kedah state government has been urged to review and temporarily halt alleged forest plantation–related logging activities in the Gunung Bongsu Forest Reserve following a recent mud flood that affected more than 500 residents in Ulu Paip.
Pertubuhan Alam Sekitar Sejahtera Malaysia (Grass) Kedah chairman Mohd Sobri Ramlee said the Oct 23 mud flood highlighted the need to re-evaluate land clearing at compartments 15, 42 and 43, which he claimed is directly affecting public safety and water quality at the Ulu Paip Eco-Forest Park.
The incident affected several nearby villages, including Kg Seberang Jaya, Kg Banggol Penyengat, Kg Sam Sam, Kg Jangkang, Kg Padang Limau, Kg Kob, Kg Batu Putih and Kg Mareland.
“Many residents have lodged police reports. Some have lived here since 1989 and said this is the first time they have experienced mud floods and flash floods this severe. The usually clear river water at Ulu Paip Eco-Forest Park has been murky since June,” he said.
Sobri noted the stark contrast between the turbid Sungai Cabang Kiri and the still-clear Sungai Cabang Kanan, despite both originating from Compartment 15 — an area linked to an alleged logging-for-plantation project covering 500 hectares under a licence valid from March 3 to Sept 2, 2025.
He called on the Environment Department and Kedah Forestry Department to clarify the status of the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), including whether it remains valid.
The Gunung Bongsu Forest Reserve is designated an Environmentally Sensitive Area Level Two, requiring sustainable management. However, Sobri claimed accelerated clearing activities in recent months may have harmed the ecosystem and endangered surrounding communities.
He urged authorities to suspend logging operations and conduct an environmental audit before further damage occurs.
Meanwhile, Kedah Environment Department director Sharifah Zakiah Syed Sahab said monitoring on Nov 16 found that river water in the Ulu Paip Eco-Forest Park was slightly coloured and turbid due to overnight and early-morning rainfall, with higher water levels and stronger currents.
She said river conditions downstream were normal, although residents confirmed mud floods had occurred in October, affecting several homes. Conditions in the affected villages have since fully recovered, with no significant traces of mud or sediment.
She assured that her department, together with the Forestry Department and relevant agencies, will conduct further investigations into the affected compartments, with subsequent action to follow based on their findings.
