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Activities Report 1999 Sept Newsletter

Heavier penalty for violators of the Street, Drainage and Building Act. 
      The Malaysian Nature Society welcomes the court case result that found Kemas Anggun guilty of not repairing their silt traps and causing the mudflow that flooded Taman Cuepacs. It is encou-raging to see local government authorities make the effort to check on the insolence of such viola-tors especially in critical areas like hillside slopes and institute legal action to ensure compliance.
      However, a fine of RM25,000 in this instance does not pose a deterrent for companies who through violations do not give due regard to the safety or well-being of the environment which includes the residents themselves. A heavier sentence within the scope of the Act should be imposed so as to act as an effective deterrent to prevent recurrences of similar violations. The maximum sentence should also be reviewed to keep pace with current day values. Furthermore, it recommends that companies that flout these rulings once too often should also be blacklisted for other housing or construction projects in the future. 
     The public too can play an important role in informing authorities of violators whose construction works bring damage and hardship to those around the area. This should be followed up by checks and constant monitoring by enforcement officers from relevant authorities. Development is inevitable for our country that is growing economically and in population but let it not be at the price of our environment.

Kuala Lumpur 30 July 1999 (NST2/8; Malay Mail 3/8) 

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Created on 3rd Sept 1999