Nearly all the hills in Taman Melawati have been developed and even reduced to mere mounds for the sake of development, e.g. Amber Hill and 20trees. No one wants to see Bukit Taman Melawati ("BTM"), the last bastion of greenery in Taman Melawati, become a part of the rapid expansion of urban life.

History is an integral subject taught in schools as it provides a valuable lesson to the young not to repeat the mistakes made by mankind. The following are incidents of landslide which have been occurring regularly on and along the hills situated in Hulu Kelang :-

• 1985 - Taman Melawati, Jln G1
• DEC 1993 - Highland Towers
• MAY 1999 - Athenaeum Tower
• OCT 2000 - Bukit Antarabangsa
• NOV 2001 - Taman Hijau
• 2002 - Taman Melawati, Jln G1
• NOV 2002 - Taman Hillview
• MAY 2006 - Kpg. Pasir, Taman Zoo View
• OCT 2007 - Taman Melawati, Jln H1 and H5

NST reported on 12 JUN 06 that eighty per cent (80%) of Hulu Klang is at risk of landslides and that a soil expert said a study done two years ago showed that some areas in Hulu Klang sat on "schist rock", the weakest rock on which to carry out any sort of development. Do we require another incident of landslide for us to finally acknowledge that the soil and gradient of BTM is not suitable for development and that such development will endanger the life of fellow Malaysians?

BTM is on elevated land in an area that has been declared by the Selangor state government as "kawasan sensitif alam sekitar"(KSAS). Many parts of the hill has gradients exceeding 35 degrees This is a blatant violation of guidelines published by the (then) Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment in 2002, there should be NO development in areas where the gradient is more than 35 degrees. In areas between 26-35 degrees, an EIA report is required.

BTM has had areas of recorded earth movement. In 1985, 2 semidetached houses located on a slope at Jalan G1 collapsed. In 2002 there was a landslide on another part of Jalan G1 that buried 2 cars. Luckily no one was hurt. There are many areas on this hill where soil erosion has taken place even before development can take place. Once the trees are cut and the land cleared of ground vegetation, for development, there will be nothing to hold the soil. There will be soil erosion and what we fear most, landslides.

BTM is part of the Hulu Kelang area where the soil condition is unstable. The following quotes by experts on soil condition demonstrates the gravity of the situation:-

1. The soil where the Taman Hillview and the Highland Towers landslides occurred, are of residual granite overlying the parent granite rock mass engineer Datuk Dr Ramli Mohamad was quoted as saying in the New Straits Times on Dec 1, 2002.
2. A geo-technical expert, Prof Mahadzer Mahmud, had said after the Kpg. Pasir landslide that soil stability in certain areas was compromised due to massive land clearing and river diversions.

This unstability exacerbated by the heavy rainfall typical of Malaysian weather makes BTM prone to landslides if development is allowed.

Based on the history of landslides, most landslides occur after a heavy downpour. Malaysia being a tropical country, naturally receives heavy rainfall throughout the year. Heavier rainfall due to climate change is a universally accepted consequence of global warming. Malaysia is already experiencing heavier rainfall, need we be reminded of the recent flooding in Johor? Head of Universiti Teknologi Mara's National Soil Erosion Research Centre (Nasec), Prof Roslan Zainal Abidin, was quoted to have said after the Kpg. Pasir landslide, that a minimum rainfall of 44.6mm, continuously over three days in an area with high-risk ratings, could trigger a landslide. If development is allowed on BTM, the heavier rainfall will further weaken the hill, which is already debilitated by the development. This onslaught of development and heavier rainfall is a catalyst for further landslides.

Land clearance is an inevitable requisite for the development and construction of houses. Can 2000 thriving and healthy trees be replaced by 20 new trees planted after the land clearance and development? Land clearance will also weaken the soil and erosion of the same is likely.

The landslide incident, which occurred in 2002 at Taman Hillview, killed a whole family of 8 and the most recent landslide in 2006 at Kg Pasir killed 4 people. How many deaths are required in order to put a stop to hillslope developments? History of landslides, earth movements, soil condition, heavier rainfall, hill cutting, land clearance and construction of houses...will only culminate in a disaster waiting to happen. There are many residents living alongside and on the slopes of BTM. Can MPAJ guarantee their safety once the development is approved?

Construction of the new houses on BTM may cause cracks and gaps in the walls and foundation of existing houses along and on the slopes. Will these property owners be compensated for the cracks and gaps? Construction of the new houses on BTM may cause cracks and gaps in the walls and foundation of existing houses along and on the slopes. Will these property owners be compensated for the cracks and gaps?

Coverage of BTM by the TV3 News Channel on the 11th of August 2007 showed scenes of local residents enjoying the surrounding landscape by taking strolls and practicing Tai Chi on the hill. Many use BTM as a place to exercise and to spend time with the family. As motor vehicles are not allowed up the hill, BTM provides a safe environment for people to enjoy the greenery and fresh air. In addition, due to the deplorable state of the playgrounds in Taman Melawati, many parents take their young ones for a stroll up BTM. Instead of depriving the residents of recreational areas and not maintaining existing recreational areas, MPAJ should maintain BTM as it is and allow the residents to enjoy the recreational use of this hill.

Bukit Taman Melawati is the last remaining green area and green lung in Taman Melawati. Much of BTM is still covered in remnant lowland/hill forest. Remnant lowland forest is now very rare in the highly urbanized areas of Selangor and Kuala Lumpur. The forest at BTM represents a fine example of remnant forest and a refuge for fauna and flora, in the Klang Valley area, and the Ampang/Ulu Klang area. There are many wildlife and plants thriving on BTM. Clearance of the remnant forest on the hill for development is a loss to local biodiversity and mankind, particularly the future generation. The biodiversity of the hill can be an excellent example for children to care and learn about fauna and flora. The remnant forest on the hill and its fauna and flora can be a great educational outdoor area for children from schools in the Taman Melawati area, to learn about nature. This will nurture children to love nature and inculcate a sense of environmental awareness and conservation of our biodiversity, for our children and future generations.

Despite its urban location, BTM is exceptionally rich in flora and fauna. Presently, there are 5 species of mammals, about 67 species of birds (resident and migrant) and 7 species of herpetofauna (amphibians and reptiles, including 3 species of snakes) recorded at BTM. These include 2 species of monkeys, Dusky Leaf Monkey (Trachypithecus obscurus) and Long-tailed Macaque (Macaca fascicularis). The Dusky Leaf Monkey is a totally protected species under the Protection of Wild Life Act 1972 in Malaysia. There are at least 2 troops of the Dusky Leaf Monkey residing at BTM. BTM is perhaps the only green urban area with a healthy population of Dusky Leaf Monkey, remaining in the Klang Valley.

BTM is also an important migration site for raptors (birds of prey) migrating from northern Asia to Malaysia and other countries in South-east Asia. Raptor migration research has been carried out at BTM since 1999, where thousands of raptors have been observed migrating over BTM. Some of the raptors use the hill as an important resting and roosting area, during their long and tiring journey. Raptor migration observation at the hill is part of the Asian Raptor Migration Survey project organized by the Asian Raptor Research & Conservation Project (ARRCN). The ARRCN, is an international organisation and has its secretariat in Osaka, Japan. It has members throughout Asia and other parts of the world. Its website is:
http://www5b.biglobe.ne.jp/~raptor/index.htm

Some of the unique and interesting plants found at BTM include Baeckia frutescens (cucur atap), pitcher plant (Nepenthes sp.), Hanguana malayana, fig trees, ru (Fragrae sp.) and Alstonia (pulai) species. It is suspected that some unique plants from the Klang Gates Quartz Ridge have germinated and established populations on BTM. These unique plants have a good potential for the horticulture industry and will ease pressure of over collection from the Klang Gates Quartz Ridge. Staff of Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) has done a preliminary observation of the plants found at BTM. Further studies may be carried out by FRIM to record the unique plants found at BTM.

With the clearance of vegetation for the sake of development, where will the monkeys, mammals, birds and other wildlife go? It is likely that the homeless monkeys and snakes will become a nuisance to future property occupiers of BTM and to those residing in the vicinity of BTM. Maintaining the BTM will ensure that there is a refuge and save haven for wildlife. Clearing the forest and vegetation at BTM, may further exacerbate the human-wildlife conflict situation that is already at a high level in the Klang Valley.

The forest on the hill maintains the local microclimate and contributes to the cooling of the surrounding environment and areas. It also prevents surface run-offs and pollution of waterways and rivers, which can happen if the hill is cleared. BTM also acts as one of the important mitigating factor to the rising local temperatures and global climate change.

BTM should be maintained as a living classroom for school children in the Taman Melawati area, for their school nature programs. The area could be promoted as a raptor migration watch site, for local residents as well as local/foreign tourists, and put BTM/Malaysia as one of the important sites for raptor migration and conservation in Asia. Further study and research could be carried out on the wildlife, birds and flora at BTM. Of interest also are the unique plants that are found at Klang gates Quartz Ridge and at BTM, that could be of scientific and medicinal value. In the long term, there is much more that can be profited for fauna, flora and biodiversity as a whole, by maintaining Bukit Taman Melawati, than by clearing the hill.