Landowners have right to clear hillslope, says exco man

BALIK PULAU: The Penang state govt has defended the recent controversial hill clearing, saying the landowners have the legitimate right to use the land for agriculture.

Penang Local Government, Traffic Management and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow, who was asked to comment on a report by The Star yesterday on hill clearing in Sungai Ara, said the farmers were not clearing the slopes and leaving them bare but were replanting them with fruit trees.

“It’s their land. They have legitimate right to use the land if it is zoned for agriculture.

“Practically all hillslope land is zoned for agriculture, except for those set aside as forest reserve, so the owners can use it for that purpose,” he told reporters after launching the Rena Park housing project in Sungai Rusa here.

Chow said there was no cause for worry.

“If you look at it, it’s mainly vegetables and fruits. Even in Balik Pulau, you see clearing of hillslopes being done every day,” he said.

Chow added that the landowners were allowed to clear hillslopes zoned for agriculture but noted that they should submit an earthwork plan for the local council to be aware of their activities.

The Star reported that the hillslope behind four condominium blocks in Sungai Ara was being cleared for agriculture.

A large brownish bald patch has emerged behind the blocks and is growing bigger.

The bald patch was not so noticeable when The Star took aerial pictures of it on April 25, but it has become bigger and can be seen from afar now.

It was reported that residents of the condominiums noticed that the hillslope was being cleared.