Adnan: Landslide not due to development, land clearing

KUANTAN: Preliminary report of the landslide at Sungai Ruil Orang Asli settlement in Cameron Highlands does not show that it occured due to development or land clearing.

Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob said the landslide that killed seven people on Aug 7 has been categorised as a natural disaster.

"The preliminary report said too much water retention on the hill due to heavy rainfall caused the landslide. I thought it was due to development but it was actually a disaster," he told reporters here on Wednesday, Aug 10.

Adnan said the Pahang state government will contribute RM10,000 to each family of victims who died and RM3,000 to those injured in the landslide.

The state government and Rural and Regional Development Ministry plan to relocate the villagers to a safer place.

"We will try to persuade the families to relocate but the psychology and culture of Orang Asli make this very difficult.

"They don't have to move if we can find a location in the same area that don't pose threat of landslides," he added. — Bernama