Calls to halt a project

After flash floods and landslides hit Cameron Highlands, people demanded a temporary suspension of the bypass project. The Works Ministry answered on September 13.

What the project covers

Three pieces: the Tanah Rata Bypass, an upgrade of Federal Road FT59 from Tanah Rata to Kea Farm, and an upgrade of FT434, known as Jalan Griddle.

Still on the drawing board

The Public Works Department says the whole thing sits in the design and assessment study stage. Nothing has been built on site beyond routine maintenance of roads that already exist.

“To date, no physical construction work related to the project has been carried out on-site”

The flooding was elsewhere

Preliminary checks put the Taman MARDI and Padang Awam flooding on secondary roads. Those spots are not on the main road alignment the project touches.

One landslide, quickly cleared

A small slip did happen on Jalan Tengkolok, which falls under the contractor's routine maintenance duties. Debris clearing started immediately and is finished.

“Debris clearing operations were carried out immediately and have been completed”

The approvals still pending

Slopes, geology, drainage and disaster risk all have to clear first: Environmental Impact Assessment, Social Impact Assessment, geotechnical requirements and local authority sign-off.

Ground breaks only after that

The ministry says physical work starts once every approval and condition is met, which makes suspension calls premature while nothing is being built.