Saddened by state of neglect in Taman Negara

MY family and I have just returned from a wonderful holiday in Taman Negara, Kuala Tahan. The forest trekking, bird/animal sightings and insect sounds were awesome. The area was very peaceful and inspiring and the staff at the hotel where we put up were also very helpful.

But we were dismayed at finding that a key portion of the famous canopy walk was still under maintenance two years on. During our trek to Bukit Teresek, I saw sections of the board walk that were in dire need of repair. I was told the Wildlife Department was responsible for their maintenance. The safety of visitors should never be compromised.

Finally, the Tembeling River was dark reddish brown in colour and was polluted with sediment. I was told that there is heavy logging on the opposite side of Taman Negara. I actually saw the evidence – several lorries overloaded with logs – when I took the road out of Taman Negara.

Isn’t the state government interested in preserving these age-old forests which are part of the state’s ecosystem? Who is behind these logging activities? The Department of Environment (DOE) should inspect the Tembeling River immediately and take samples to test the water quality. The DOE should perform due diligence and publish a study on the effects of logging immediately.

This is my 31st visit to Taman Negara and I cried when I saw the pollution and the sad state of affairs there. When will Malaysians learn to truly love their environment?