Penang Hills Watch Report 2018 11th September 2018 Prepared by 1 Contents 1.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 3 2.0 Records of public observations ............................................................................................................... 6 2.1 Zone 1: Northern Part of Penang Island .............................................................................................. 7 3.2 Zone 2: Middle Part of Penang Island .............................................................................................. 19 3.4 Zone 4: Seberang Perai ..................................................................................................................... 31 4.0 Follow up .............................................................................................................................................. 36 2 Penang Hills Watch Report 2018 1.0 Introduction The Penang Hills Watch (PHW) was publicly launched by the Penang Forum (PF) on 31 October 2016, with an invitation to the public to contribute on-the-ground observations on hill clearing activities. Thus far, we have documented 180 cases of land clearing in the hills, out of which 90 cases are sourced from the data tabled during the DUN seating in 2015 and 2016 respectively while we received 90 cases1 of land clearing and construction activities in the state from the general public, which we have documented, mapped and displayed online through the PHW portal https://hillclearinginpenang.ushahidi.io/views/map. A week before the launch, PF members requested and had a meeting with a number of government agencies including Majlis Bandaraya Pulau Pinang (MBPP), Jabatan Perhutanan Negeri Pulau Pinang (JPNPP), Jabatan Ukur dan Pemetaan Malaysia (JUPEM) and Jabatan Perancang Bandar Dan Desa Pulau Pinang (JPBDPP) when we explained the purpose of the PHW project and demonstrated the online application. We emphasized that the observations made in the field need to be checked against official records to determine if the clearing activities have official approval or, whether these activities need to be checked out and acted upon by the relevant government authorities. We therefore suggested close cooperation with MBPP and other relevant government departments for mutual exchange of information, and our suggestion was well received at the meeting. The table below summarizes the reports we have submitted, meetings held and official written responses received. To date we have not yet received MBPP written response to the Third PHW report. 1 75 of the 90 cases have been referred to MBPP,MPSP and State Government while 15 have been independently verified by the Penang State Government prior to our reports. 3 This report constitutes our fourth compilation of observations since the launch at the end of October 2016. In this fourth report, we seek clarification for a further 16 reports which are the observations made between Oct 2017 and Aug 2018 as well as follow ups to cases reported in the first, second and third report. We also seek to know the status of 14 reports (which come under the jurisdiction of MBPP) which were submitted to MBPP last year. In this report, 13 of the reports are from Penang Island while 3 are from Seberang Perai. Therefore we seek the goodwill of both MBPP and MPSP in investigating cases under their respective jurisdiction. 4 Summary of cases documented in four Penang Hills Watch Report in from October 2016 to July 2018 Hill Clearing Cases Documented by PHW 35 30 29 25 20 18 Report 1 16 Report 2 15 12 Report 3 10 Report 4 5 2016 2017 2017 2018 0 Report 1 Report 2 Report 3 Report 4 Distribution of Cases based on Council jurisdiction Seberang Perai (MPSP) Penang Island (MBPP) 68 5 2.0 Records of public observations PHW reports have been obtained from various locations around Penang State (including Seberang Perai) and are divided into separate geographic zones. Each report is identified by A photo (or photos) Nearest landmark, township or road Approximate coordinates Report and Photo date (Photo dates might vary from the report date) Reports are grouped by three zones where they are obtained from. The zones are as follows; Zone 1 - Northern part of Penang Island Zone 2 - Middle part of Penang Island Zone 3 - Southern part of Penang Island Zone 4 - Seberang Perai The location of these regions are indicated in the illustrated map below with their locations as numbered earlier. Zone 1 has 8 reports, Zone 2 has 5 reports, Zone 3 has 3 reports and Zone 4 has 3 reports, bringing the total number of reports for investigation to 19 . The numbering sequence will begin from number 60 as our previous report sent in September 2017 ended at number 59. Photo 1: Four zones covered in the PHW Report 6 2.1 Zone 1: Northern Part of Penang Island Report 60 Location : Hillslope near Mount Erskine Approximate Coordinates : 5°26'47.00"N, 100°17'51.90"E Photo taken in Nov 2017. Observation and comments This hillslope behind the Mount Erskine Market remains exposed to the elements. It is just uphill from a new residential project. The Google Earth images below show the extent of hill clearing that had happened, comparing the situation in March 2016 with that in February 2018. 7 Mar 2016 Feb 2018 8 Report 61 Location : Tiger Hill, Penang Hill Approximate Coordinates : 5°24'54.0"N 100°14'27.5"E Photo taken in Oct 2017. Observation and comments This clearing of tree cover in the Tiger Hill Valley is presumably for agricultural activities. The clearing began sometime between January 2016 and Dec 2017 as indicated by the Google Earth images below. This location is within the water catchment area for Sungai Pinang Barat. 9 Jan 2016 Dec 2017 10 Report 62 Location : Bukit Cendana (facing Air Itam) Approximate Coordinates: 5°25'10.7"N 100°17'08.8" Photo taken in Nov 2017. Observation and comments Agricultural clearing of secondary forest on the slopes of Bukit Cendana; note that the cleared area (in the February 2018 image below) was under tree cover in February 2013. 11 Feb 2013 Feb 2018 12 Report 63 Location : Hillslope in Teluk Bahang Catchment Approximate Coordinates : 5°25'07.5"N 100°12'30.7"E Photo taken in Nov 2017. Observation and comments Clearing took place sometime between 2014 and 2015 and has remained exposed till now. Two landslips can also be noticed from the Google Earth image below. The location of this clearing is within the Teluk Bahang Catchment area. 13 May 2014 Sept 2017 14 Report 64 Location : Hillslope facing Sungai Pinang (Balik Pulau Approximate Coordinates: 5°23'49.1"N 100°13'24.5"E Photo taken in Feb 2018. Observation and comments Cleared area was previously also used for agriculture, and the clearing done seems to be for new crops. However the size of the cleared area may result in soil erosion as a large area of the hill slope has been exposed due to this clearing. 15 Report 65 Location : Sungai Kelian Catchment area Approximate Coordinates: 5°27'09"N 100°16'20"E. Photo taken in May 2018. Observation and comments We would want to know the current status of the rehabilitation of this slope in the Sungai Kelian Catchment area. Since the May landslide discharge from Sungai Kelian becomes sediment laden each time there is heavy rainfall. For example the photo below taken on 3rd September 2018 shows the discharge of sediment-laden water into the sea from Sungai Kelian. Note also the siltation resulting in narrowing of the river mouth. 16 17 Report 66 Location : Behind Island Resort Approximate Coordinates: 5°28'35.4"N 100°15'57.8"E Photo taken in August 2018. Observation and comments This clearing for an access path began in August 2018 behind the Island Resort area. As it is uphill behind Island Resort and a few other condominiums it would pose a risk as soil erosion could happen if it rains. 18 3.2 Zone 2: Middle Part of Penang Island Report 67 Mar 2014 Mar 2016 19 Feb 2018 Location : Bukit Kukus Approximate Coordinates : 5°21'56.4"N 100°16'59.4"E Observation and comments This hill slope clearing began in 2013, becoming visible in 2014, and continuously expanding from then. It was reported in the PHW Report 1 which was submitted in January 2017. The response obtained was that the land works were not approved, a stop work order set in Sept 2013, and mitigation work is being done. However the google earth image still shows that a huge part of the slope is barren as of February 2018, while access roads have been built. 20 Report 68 Feb 2015 Feb 2018 21 Location : Bukit Kukus (facing Paya Terubong) Approximate Coordinates : 5°22'01.4"N 100°16'52.1"E Observation and comments This site initially was the site of a landslide which originates from the terraced slope of Report 68 which happened between March 2014 and May 2014. However the bottom of this landslide has been terraced and slightly expanded. It is unsure what nature of activity is taking place there but note that the surrounding area is all agricultural land. 22 Report 69 Mar 2016 Feb 2018 23 Location : Bukit Kukus (near the peak) Approximate Coordinates : 5°21'12.5"N 100°16'48.7"E. Report sent in Feb 2018, satellite imagery from Feb 2018. Observation and comments From the above Google Earth images, clearing of tree cover for agriculture began between March 2016 and February 2018. The elevation of the clearing activity exceeds the 1000 ft contour and is located close to the peak of Bukit Kukus. 24 Report 70 Location : Paya Terubong Approximate Coordinates : 5°21'48.0"N 100°16'33.8"E Photo taken in Feb 2018. Observation and comments This is the same Bukit Kukus location as Report 12 in the First PHW report, to which MBPP response was that Report 12 refers to approved earth works and NBK issued to developer Sri & Sri Associates SB on 17 Jun 2014.