No new contract for quarry activities at Gunung Kanthan - Perak Exco

IPOH, June 5 -- There is no issue of awarding or extending contracts to any company to carry out new quarry activities at Gunung Kanthan, as circulated on social media recently, said Perak Housing, Local Government and Tourism Committee chairman Datuk Nolee Ashilin Mohamed Radzi.

She said this was because the existing quarry company had not submitted any plans to operate hills C and D on the mountain to the Perak Department of Mineral and Geoscience (JMG).

“For everyone's information, Gunung Kanthan has been approved as a quarrying area since the 70s in line with the land use zone and land use classification as stipulated in the Ipoh Local Plan 2020 gazetted on July 5, 2012.

“The quarrying area in Gunung Kanthan is divided into four, namely hills A, B, C and D. Currently, the quarry operator are conducting controlled quarrying activities at hills A and B according to the Quarry Scheme Approval Letter (SKSK) approved by Perak JMG from Jan 1, 2021 to Dec 31, 2021.

"The company will maintain hill D as a conservation area as well as assist in the conservation of flora and fauna following a discussion with the Perak State Parks Corporation on April 21, 2021," she told Bernama.

Nolee Ashilin said the quarry operator had also agreed to make hill D where the Gua Kanthan geopark is located, which is famous for a highly endangered endemic spider species called the Liphistius kanthan, as a conservation area.

She said Universiti Malaya, Universiti Malaysia Sabah and Monash University as well as non-governmental organisations including the Tropical Rainforest Conservation and Research Centre would be working together to conduct research on existing habitats and species in the area.

Meanwhile, on the issue of the Hulu Kinta Forest Eco Park, Nolee Ashilin said the Forestry Department is holding discussions with relevant parties to address the issue, including to privatise the management of the forest eco park.

It was reported that several environment-based NGOs had urged the state government to fully commit towards preserving the two geoparks as they are facing the risk of destruction if not given immediate attention.

-- BERNAMA